MR. FRASER'S TRIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23969, 20 May 1941, Page 6

MR. FRASER'S TRIP

HOSPITALS IN EGYPT VISITS TO PATIENTS WARM WELCOME AT CLUB (Jf.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, May m Making it his first concern, the' Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon P. Fraser, has been very busily engaged since his arrival in Egypt visiting patients in the New Zealand hospitals and speaking to. them. Many of those he saw were wounded in Greece and for these he has had a special word. His programme at hospitals of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force has been strenuous, but this has not altered his intention of seeing and speaking to as many as possible who are ill or wounded. During an interval at one hospital .Mr. Fraser said lie '"wished to take the opportunity to thank* the medical and nursing staffs of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force for the very fine work they were doing for New Zealand troops in the Middle East. They were providing a very real and tangible link with home. Call on Egyptian Premier Mr. Fraser lias been a welcome sight to men of the New Zealand Forces who have been quick to react to the presence of their visitor. Some were able to tell him of men he knew- Others were able to give him messages to pass on to people at home. Mr. Fraser also caller! on the Egyptian Premier. Hussein Sirry Pasha, who in return called on Mr. Fraser at the British Embassy. Cordial messages of goodwill were exchanged with the New Zealand Forces Club in. Cairo, which has been open for some time. Last evening Mr. Eraser saw for himself the fine facilities available for soldiers while on leave in the city. He had dinner at the club and was struck by the enthusiastic way in which the inert* Were enjoying themselves while he was there. Delight at Amenities For their part they gave Mr. Fraser a really rousing welcome and wherever he went during an inspection of the premises he was met by smiling faces. He saw new accommodation which has just been added to the club, and expressed his delight at the amenities provided through the National Patriotic Fund. A further call is being made, by Mr. Fraser to-day on patients in hospital. He spent this morning at a large New Zealand camp seeing troops who have returned to this country from Greece. Ho lunched at the camp and this afternoon is to visit the Kiwi Club, which was established some months ago largely through the energetic leadership of Lady Lampson. The principal object of the club is to provide recreational facilities for soldiers convalescing in hospital- It has succeeded admirably, -is a firm favourite with men stationed in the vicinity and is a notable example of the fine work being done by voluntary helpers for New Zealand troops evcry--1 where. In a statement Mr. Fraser said that the New Zealanders had .come back from Greece "with their tails op." They were convinced that they could wipe up the Germans anywhere if the odds were more or less equal.