SIR JAMES ALLEN

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 6

SIR JAMES ALLEN

VISIT TO MONTECILLO CONVALESCENT 1 HOME. Sir James Allen (Acting Prime Minister and" Minister of Defence), accompanied by his private secretary (Mr F, G. Matthews) and Mr 0. E. Statham, M.P., visited tho Red Cross Military Convalescent Home at Mpntecillo yesterday forenoon, and was received by Miss Rattray (president), the Rev. Vincent King (chairman), and Miss M'Millan (matron). Surgeon-colonel Fitzgerald (officer in charge of hospital out-patients), Surgeon-captain Gabites (D.M.S. for Otago Military District), and Captain Ziesler (vocational officer) -were among those present. The Minister inspected the workshop, in jehich many of the 24 inmates were engaged

in work of various sorts under the- instruction of Miss Macassey and Miss Graham. Those ladies attend five days per week, and several voluntary workers assist on one day per week. The work includes basketweaving, copper work, and designing in leather, etc., and the making of tapestry on a loom. Sir James expressed himself as agreeably surprised at the excellence of the work turned out. Later_ tho soldiers assembled in the sitMontecillo on Monday forenoon, and was reting room, and Sir James lijtened to some minor grievances, the principal one being tho wearing of the hospital blue uniform. The fit is as a rule very bad. _ Sir James held out no hope of tho hospital uniform being done away with, as the wearing of it was in the interests of the men themselves. Captain Ziesler said ho would at once

•all a meeting of the men, find out what 'heir needs were in other respects, and see that all deficiencies as to necessaries were aupplietf. The speaker added that under the contract system there often was delay in such supplies.