THE HOSPITAL SHIP

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 61

THE HOSPITAL SHIP

AN EXPLANATION. POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT, (From Opr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 5. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) endeavoured to clear away some misconceptions still entertained by the public in regard to the hospital ship, in a statement which he gave to a reporter to-day. “It seems to me,” he said, “that there ia considerable misunderstanding in the minds of some people about the position of the Government in relation to the ship. I want to make it perfectly clear again, as I have already tried to do, that the Government is quite prepared to lit out that ship in every detail at the expense of the State, but his Excellency the Governor quite rightly wanted to have a personal interest in some particular humane work with respect to the war, and he knew that there must be a great many other people in New Zealand who would like to have a similar interest in the fitting up of the ship. His Excellency has, therefore, led a movement to provide a part of the equipment as distinct from the cost of preparing the ship and furnishing it for this special service. We are pacing every halfpenny of the cost of this latter work, and wo are prepared, if necessary, to pay for all the rest, but if people want to give we don’t want to stop them. We don’t want to deprive them of the pleasure, which I hope it is. to them, of doing something for our wounded. But nobody need give. If anybody has the slightest compunction aboui giving he may either keep his money or give it to some of the other patriotic funds. The Government has never asked for a penny for the ship. The Governor has asked, and I think it is quite right for him to do so. His Excellency is taking a very great interest in the movement he has initiated. I think the people ought to bo very grateful to him for it.” £23,762 NOW IN HAND. SUCCESSFUL CARNIVAL AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, June 6. The carnival in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund was continued yesterday the main feature being a band contest, which attracted a large attendance and created much interest. Five city band| competed, .and the result of the Quickstep competition was as follows; Central Mission: Music 64, marching 20* —total points, 258. Tramways: Music 81, marching 1784—• total points, 259 A. _ j Fifth Regiment: Music 73, marching 163* —total points, 2364 Other competitors were the Waterside Workers and Petone. So successful wfcf the result of the contest that an effort may be made to org’anise a similar ing on dominion lines. The Hospital Ship Fun<J moneys received by the Internal Affairs Department now total £23,762. AUCKLAND, June 1, An offer made by the Now Zealand macy Board to provide the whole equips ment for the dispensary and surgical department on board the ship bw been accepted. It is that £1?00 will be required. A subscription taken up among the Auckland chemists has already provided £325 of that sum. NEW PLYMOUTH, June 1. The donation lists for the hospital snip, which closed on the Ist, show that Taranaki has contributed well over £3OOO, of which Now Plymouth has provided about £I3OO. CHRISTCHURCH, June 1. Mr W. Clark has given 100 Kaiapoi rugs for the hospital ship, and the Kaiapoi Woollen Company has given another 50 rugs. • ~ Colonel Purdy (director of medical supplies) informs us that the statement published in yesterday’s issue relating to the personnel of the Hospital Ship was incorrect. He states that the only two men definitely recommended for appointment are Colonel Collins and Lieutenant-colonel Tracy Inglis. Colonel Robin (Commandant of the Forces) and Colonel Purdy paid a visit to the hospital ship at Port Chalmers yesterday.