VISIT TO DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3402, 28 May 1919, Page 21

VISIT TO DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

INSPECTS MONTECILLO HOME.

ADDRESS ON RED CROSS WORK

ENTERTAINED BY OFFICERS.

On Monday morning General Richardson inspected the Duneclin Hospital, accompanied by Colonel Cowie Njoholls (commanding Otago distriot), Colonel Gabites (A.D.M.S.), and Major Pickerill. The medical superintendent (Dv Falconer) conducted the party on its tour. In the afternoon the general paid a visit to the Bed Cross Convalescent Home at Montecillo. He was acoompanied by Colonel Nioholls, Lieutenant-colonel Gabites, and a number of other officers, inoluding his aide-de-camp (Lieutenant Eidler). The building was decorated by the patients bunting, kindly lent by the Union Company. He was received by members of the Red Cross Society, including the following:—Miss Rattray (president), the Rev. V. 6. B. King (chairman), Mrs Butterworth, Mrs Ferguson, Mrs 'Fitohett, Miss Williams, Miss M'Millan (matron), Messrs Bone, R. Glendining, Rosevear, and E. P. Smith (members of the executive). The handsome billiard room and lounge was crowded with visitors, nurses, V.AD.'s, and patients iri hospital blue. Mr King said that, on behalf of the members of the Red Cross Society and the soldier inmates, he desired to tender to the general a very sincere welcome. All felt it a great honour to have with them one whom they looked upon as the "fathergeneral" of the soldiers, and to whom was due in a large measure the loving care and attention given to the New Zealand soldiers in England. The general was a man of deeds, so the speaker would not ply him with words, but would ask him to address the gathering. RED CROSS EULOGISED. General Richardson, who was greeted with applause on rising to speak, said he had been asked on his way to Dunedin if ho would meet tho citizens, and had expressed the desire that no such honour should be accorded him, but that he should be given an opportunity of meeting the soldiers, and also the Rod Cross workers and tho patriotio organisations which had done so much for the .men overseas. These men had not had an opportunity of expressing their thanks to the people of New Zealand, and he desired to act as their mouthpiece. He was a soldier, not a public speaker, so he would not make a long speech, but would try to give them an idea of the invaluable results their efforts had brought about in the work of caring for the troops. For the first 20 months of the war he had been in the field, and was then recalled by the New Zealand Government to take charge of the Expeditionary Force administration and the command of the troops that were actually in England. While there he had tho chance of seeing the Red Cross work, and realising the self-sacrificing effort they were devoting to the comfort and pleasure of the men in hospital. ■ He did not know if the men themselves always realised who were providing these comforts, but he had alwa.KS done his best to make it clear to them whenever he had the chance. When ho went to England first there was only one very small hospital there, which had been established by what was called the War Contingent Association. This body was formed primarily to look after any New Zealand soldiers who arrived in England, both the fit'and the. sick. He got into touch with the committee of the association, and, with the help of Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes and oj'.her members of the association at Home, it was divided into two sections —one had to do patriotic work in the direction of looking after fit men where necessary, and the other to do purely Red Cross work in looking after men in hospital. The hospitals then expanded. It was a question whether or not the sick and wounded should be distributed throughout -various hospitals in England, after the Canadian and Australian method. This might have been more economical, but it would not have been so beneficial for the men. New Zealand hospitals were established, 4t being felt that the men would be happier if concentrated together, and that had proved to be the case. The first steps were to organise the Red Cross in England. The New Zealand Red Cross workers were given a distinctive uniform and divided into detachments, according to their territorial districts. As our hospitals were demobilised he hoped that theso workers would return and would be available for coping with the problems of peace, and also of war. should war -unfortunately occur. New Zealand's institutions in England were, in proportion, more numerous than those of other countries. The casualties were heavy, the wastage in France beim? approximately 10 per cent, per month. This wastage was daily brought across the Channel and poured into the hospitals, where men spent from a few weeks to much longer periods. HOSPITALS IN ENGLAND.

The Walton Hospital, continued the general, acoommodated nearly 1800 patients, and was commanded successively by Colonel Mill and Colonel O'Neill, both Otago doctors. The Brockenhurst Hospital, under Colonel Wylie, accommodated about 1500. and the Codford Hospital over 650, under Colonel Fenwick. In addition there was a hospital for jaw patients at Sidcup, under Major Pickerill. It was satisfactory to know that a large number of New Zealand medical officers had gained high distinction. The speaker had been piven a_ great deal of credit, as was natural, he boms? at the head of affairs in Ensrland. but the credit belonged really to the doctors and nurses. It was doubtful if New Zealand realised what a fine body of medical officers it possessed. They were fit to rank with anv in the world. The nurses and V.A.D.'s had formed one of the most popular bodies in the N.Z.E.F. The Brighton Convalescent Home for officers was an excellent institution, and provision was also made there for nurses who became run down in health. At each of the places he had referred to Bed Cross depots had been established, and it was owing to the efforts of the workers that the various institutions were as comfortable as thev were. A Red Cross depot was established at Southampton, whence p-cods were issued as they arrived to the small depots at the hospitals throughout England. The Convalescent Hospital at Hornohurch was a model place, than which there was no better of ita kind in England. A great deal was due to the Red Ores* for this happy result. People from the War Office, etc.. frequently visited Hornohurch In order tp see what a really model convalescent hospital was. On leaving Hornohuroh the nten went on fur-

lough, and thence through the intermediate training camp at Oodfora. and into the final camp for the hard training before their return to the field. In France very little Red Cross work was -done compared with what would havo been done if the Red Cross had been organised earlier in tho war. However, the men did not suffer, for New Zealand had contributed largely to the British Red Cross, so that there was no difficulty in getting whatever was required. A REGRETTABLE NECESSITY. His own function in England, the General oontinued, was to get the men ready for tho field, and to look after the sick and wounded. The latter knew that if they made a full recovery they would bo" returned to the front. That was one of the most regrettable things, and one always felt sympathetic towards wounded men who had to return to the field. However, the drainage of man-power rrjado such a course inevitable, and it was to the credit of the men themselves that they were always willing to go back to the field when they had recovered from wounds or sioknes*. Men who were unlikely to be fit for some months were sent back to New Zealand. Tho shortage of hospitals ships had held up this return occasionally, but all the men could testify to the excellent work done by those hospital ships that were in commission. ORGANISATION ADVISED. Had one been organising the work from the beginning, the General continued, one would- have established the New Zealand Red Cross with its own charter, and it would have fjubscribed to the British Red Cross from time to time. An executive would have been set up in New Zealand, with a commissioner overseas associated with a committee. The Government •would have provided transport, and would have asked the Red Cross to set up depots in England, France, and Egypt. .New Zealand V.A.D.'s would havo been provided, auxiliary to the Army Nursing Service. Thus the Rod Cross would pervade every department of tho Expeditionary Force. But although the Red Cross got to work very early, he did not think it proceeded on those lines. Nevertheless, the men had had the benefit of its efforts, and he desired on their behalf to thank the Red Cross workers for the splendid work they had done. He advised them to organise, so that their work could be used in dealing with future peace problems, and also the problems of any possible war. The care of prisoners in enemy hands, for example, came within the scope of Red Cross activity. WOMEN'S WORK. The speaker paid a high tribute to the work done by women in the war. By filling the places vacated by men who went out to fight, he eaid, they had kept the economic machine running, and so enabled the war to be Svaged to its victorious end. Now that the war was over, many disabled men were returning who could not re-enter their former occupations. They were going to be a big problem. The functions of the Red Cross were to ameliorate the condition of the sick and wounded, and it might well come within its scope to supplement the efforts of the Government in replacing disabled men in civil life and making them useful citizens.—(Applause.) On the call of the General, the soldier patients gave three hearty cheers for the New Zealand Red Cross. The General then inspected the institution, and expressed great pleasure at its comfort, and its up-to-date appurtenances. He chatted freely with the soldier inmates, and asked them to voice any grievances they might have. They brought up the matter of their blue uniforms, which they said, they objected to wearing about the streets and the General listened carefully to their complaint, and promised to give it careful consideration. The Momington Sohool Fife and Drum Band rendered selections during the afternoon. . The General inspected the band, and was greatly pleased with its trim appearance and soldierly demeanour. Afternoon tea was provided, and hearty cheers followed the General as he motored off.

ENTERTAINED BY OFFICERS.

AN AGREEABLE EVENING.

A distinguished gathering met in the lounge at the Savoy Tea Rooms in the evening, when General Richardson was entertained by the Dunedin District Officers/ Club. Lieutenant-colonel T. Chalmer (president of the club) presided, and the room was filled by a thoroughly representative assemblage of returned and Territorial offi cers of all commissioned ranks, from colonels to second lieutenants. A number of toasts were honoured, and musical and elocutionary items and informal chat filled in a delightful evening. The function was in the nature of a reunion, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. In his opening remarks, the Chairman conveyed a number of apologies for absence, and made special reference to Padre Dutton, who, he regretted to say. was prevented from attending through illness. The present was the first meeting of the club since 1914, and it augured well for its success in the future that there was such a large attendance. It was hoped before long to get going again properly in the quarters provided at the new drill hall, but these would not be available for some time. "I should like to say a word about our departed comrades —our glorious dead," continued the chairman. 'They have done their part for their country and the Empire, and are not present to receive the reward of their good work. It may not, perhaps, be invidious to refer particularly to one name—that of the late Colonel Bauchop. He was a man whom we all respected highly, who endeared himself to us all by his kindliness of nature, and who will long be remembered amongst us. 1 would ask you, gentlemen, to stand a moment In memory of our brave dead." GENERAL RICHARDSON'S WORK.

In proposing the toast of General Richardson, Colonel Nicholls referred to the splendid work dope by their guest in the initiation and development of the Territorial scheme. He had served for a considerable period under Sir William Robertson, and had imbibed the principles which had made that great leader famous. He was New Zealand's representative at the War Office when the war broke out, and during his term in England he was largely responsible for the splendid administration of the camps and hospitals in England. It was only a man of extraordinary ability who could have carried this work out in the way ip which it was done. He had now returned, after his immense work, and was deepin consideration of future problems. The

policy of the country was not vet lai<l down. But the speaker gathered frorn th« general that he wae anxious that the cadet and tho young man of the coiuv try should be taken in hand, should ba physically, morally, and mentally developed, and should be thoroughly trained in soma Territorial scheme, to make him a urst-olass citizen, an efficient soldier, and a credit to the dominion and the Empire.—(Applause.) The greatest question to be deal* with was that of repatriation, and all should take it to heart. The prosperity of the country was dependent on production, and it was necessary to make every returned soldier productive as soon as, and to the greatest degree, possible. Repatriation would be a difficult work, and it would be necessary to bear with the returned matt in some oases, and to show patience in dealing with them. Some of them would stumble, and would require a helping hand and patient help until they found their feet. In his work of administration, General Richardson would have the moral ana material support of tho whole dominion. There was no other man the country could get -who_ would receive a fuller measure or support in the enormous tasks that required to be performed—tasks that demanded a strong man, and a man of great sanity and patience. General Richardson combined these qualities, and satisfaction was felt throughout the whole community at hii return. —(Applause.) He had the confidence of the people, and in his difficulties ha might rest assured that he had the solid backing of the country behind him.—(Ap* plause.) Colonel O'Neill, who was loudly applauded - on rising, supported the toast. He said that he had been intimately conneoted with the General at Walton-on-Thames, when, contrary to his own inclinations, he was placed in charge of the N.Z.E.F. in the United Kingdom. There he established a reciprocity between the dominion, tho force* in England, and the forces in the field, which largely contributed to the success of the N.Z.E.F. Ho was a remarkable ovganiser, and had a keen appreciation of the needs that arose, and a genius for straightening out difficulties. His association with the War Office was most happy, for he had many friends there, and this fact contributed to his success in the work of smooth administration. He was now applying himself to tho task of re-establish-ing the returned man as a successful citizen, and in that there was no doubt thai he would be_ as successful as he had been in his previous professional work. All joined in wishing him a long life, and continued success in his profession.—(Applause.) Colonel Strong eulogised the work of the General as a Volunteer and Territorial or* ganiser. He had distinguished himself in the war. and returned full of honours, upon which they congratulated him.. He would have the full support of the Territorial officers in the work that lay ahead of him. —(Applause.) THE WAR DISCUSSED. In replying to the toast, General Richardson, speaking informally, and not for publication, dealt in a keenly interesting way with various phases of the war which had come under his observation. He said that it gave him great pleasure to be present, after such a long absence, for among the guests were many whom he counted as old trie ids, and many of those with whom he had been associated when he had occupied a very humble position were among the best of his friends. —(Applause.) ■ Ho hoped) that those who had fallen would always ba reverently remembered, as they had been that night. He paid a tribute to General Robertson, and, going on to deal with tha N.Z.E.F., spoke in terms of the highest eulogy of the New Zealand medical officers, - in connection with whom he said that ha had been struck with the number of highly skilled men who came from. Dunedin. They were a credit to the organisation that produced them. He spoke in terms of the highest praise of the pre-war New Zealand Territorial system, and advocated its continuance in tho future. It was, emphatic-' ally, not aimed at the inculcation of militarism, but it did strive' for the physical, moral, and mental betterment of the youth of the country, and for the provision of a sound manhood for defensive purposes. Ha helped that the services of returned officers woaild be available for its effective development. Repatriation was the primary problem of the present. He believed that tha returned soldiers were better men than when they went away, and that when they settled down in civil life they would be, better citizens, and the community would' be the richer on account of them. The disabled men should be first in the thought* of all. Officially, he was not responsible for repatriation, but he considered it to be his duty, and the duty of every officer and every citizen, to assist in the restoration to useful citizenship of tho returned soldier, and particularly of the disabled soldier* There were three things he would impress on his audience —(1) The case of the disabled soldier; (2) the education of the public in the necessity for strong national defence ; and (3) the need for a correct perspective in regarding New Zealand's share . in the war in relation to the share of tha Mother Country. In regard to the lastnamed, he could assure them that Old England had done more than any other nation in the war.—(Loud applause.) That faot should be kept very prominently before tha public. Amid loud applause, the general concluded with a glowing reference to tha work of the women of the Empire in the

war and to tho splendid service of General Sir Andrew Russell.

RETURNED SOLDIERS HONOURED. Colonel E. R. Smith proposed the toast of "Tho Returned Soldiers," coupled with tho name of Lieutenant-colonel Moir. It was a pleasure, he said, to be now ablo to welcome our men back. Forty-eight reinforcements had entered camp, and every draft that had gone overseas had acquitted itself gallantly. It was due to the soldiers, splendidly directed by the high command, that wo wore now victorious. —(Applause.) We had cause to be proud of many things, and among them was the fine spirit in which the dominion had accepted the Military Service Act. On Armistice Day it was said that New Zealand was the only country that had" a whole division in the field. The navy's magnificent work should not be forgotten, and the women _of the Empire were entitled to all praise. At tho armistice there were 5,000,000 women in Great Britain doing tho work of men. Now that the war was over it was hoped that returned and Territorial officers would combine to work together in the interests of a strong defensivo force and of the general welfare of the community.—(Applause.) NEED FOR A CLUB. Colonel Moir, in responding to the toast, said that, but for the support of the people of New Zealand, the work of the soldiers would perhaps not have been carried out with the same spirit of genuine regard for duty that was displayed. The young officers were as fine a body as could have been found, and men superior to those they led were not discoverable throughout the British Empire.—(Applause.) He appealed for assistance in enabling the returned men to settle down in civil life. He strongly urged tho desirability of a club where they could meet in social fellowship, and asked that those present should do their utmost to help in the establishment of such an institution, where the returned men could spend their leisure hours in innocent amusement. The necessity for such a club was obvious, and he asked- that those in sympathy should assist to the best of their ability in making it an established fact. The returned men, as far as he knew, did not propose embarking in organised political activities. But their association could not exist unless it fought for those objects which were tho business of returned men, such as questions affecting land settlement, etc. In conclusion, he again thanked tho gathering, on behalf of the returned officers and other ranks, for the enthusiasm with which the toast had been honoured. The singing of "Auld Lang Syne" concluded a successful evening.