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Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 6 August 1915, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR.

HOSPITAL SHIP FUND. To the People of New Zealand. The actual amount subscribed to the Hospital Ship Fund amounted to £47,548 17/- which I desire to say far exceeded my expectations. In my lettertothe Public Press on May 26th, I enumerated some of the articles which would be required for the equipment of the ship; and 'as far as I could, I estimated the approximate cost of such equipment. This of course included many items not specified by me, and which I believed could only be acquired by being purchased. The actual money expended on equipment will be approximately £16,000. Now in many instances articles which it was never thought likely would be forwarded (as they were not specified in the list of suggested goods) were donated, and further, the donors forwarded sums of money as well, with the result that the equipment was carried out at a considerably less cost than could possibly have been anticipated. So many donors in writing to me said that they were in entire accord that we should utilise money for the use of the sick and wounded wherever it was required, and therefore made further contributions with the desire that the surplus should be as large as possible, while at the same time intimating that the upkeep of the equipment of the Plospital Ship should b 8 our first care. I quite concur myself with these views, and I have thought it desirable to ask certain gentlemen to assist me with their advice as to the administration of the surplus. They are : the Hon. Colonel J. Allen, M.P., A. Myers, Esquire., M.P., Brigadier-General A. Robin, CB., C.M.G., and Their Worships the Mayors of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. These gentlemen have most kindly agreed to assist me in every way possible. I have during the last few weeks been in close communication with all the centres abroad where our wounded are located and have got definite information that they are receiving every possible attention. This has been further confirmed by personal letters from the men to myself, and where men have been scattered, arrangements have been made to keep in close touch with them. I despatched in the “ Maliano ” 32 cases for use in the base hospitals in Egypt, and after communication with the Governor and Commander in Chief in Malta (Field Marshal The Lord Methuen) money and newspapers were despatched for the sick and wounded in that Island. I think therefore we can consider that the wants of our men are very well attended to both in Egypt and Malta. At. the same time if gifts are despatched to either of these two bases, the articles enumerated in my letter to the newspapers on July 6th, namely : Medium weight shirts (Woollen qiaterial) Vests Drawers Socks Pyjamas Cholera Belts Bandages, would always be acceptable and the Secretary for Internal Affairs would always be prepared to arrange for their despatch. Where, however, I propose to devote my chief attention at the present time is to those sick and wounded at present in England. Lord Plunket, who is Chairman of the New Zealand Committee in Great Britain for assisting our sick and wounded, has acquired an auxilary hospital at Walton on Thames called “ Mount Felix ” which will accomodate some 110 beds, but which he assures me can ne extended to carry 300 or 400 beds, and which needs considerable support. He further adds that this scheme has the full concurrence of the Army Council. Let it bo distinctly borne in mind that the Imperial Government has made adequate arrangements for the care of New Zealand sick and wouuded, but they cannot necessarily guarantee Unit they .can be located in one hospital, and it is for this reason the New Zealanders at Homo have started this institution which is assisted by the New Zealand Government, the Imperial Government, and private contributions. It is readily understood that it is a great boon to the wounded to be associated with their own comrades. We have also agreed to place all moneys on deposit, makingarrangements for withdrawal when necessary, but at the same time not to allow the balance in the bank to fall below a certain I figure so that it will he available for replenishing anything repaired for the Maheno. By this arrangement I am convinced that we shall be able to put tho generous donations of New Zealand people to their fullest use.

j In conclusion, I should like to take this opportuniry as the Head of the Order of St John in New Zealand, of thanking the several shipping companies who trade direct with the United Kingdom from New Zealand for having so generously carried various hospital requirements free since the commencement of the war. Owing to the fact, however, that we have now a large number of sick and wounlded located in Egypt and the Mediterranean, the P. &O. and Orient Steamship Companies iiaxe been approached, and have also kindly consented to allocate certain space for the same purpose. In order to allow us to take advantage of this offer, the Union and Huddart Parker Steamship Companies have kindly agreed to carry the goods free to Australia. All applications for space should be made direct to the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, Wellington, who will ascertain when and how the goods can be despatched. LIVERPOOL, Governor.