BUSY TIME IN CAIRO

Southland Times, Issue 24439, 20 May 1941, Page 4

BUSY TIME IN CAIRO

MR FRASER MEETS TROOPS MEN IN HOSPITALS VISITED (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, May 19. 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 New Zealand hospitals and speaking to them. Many of those he saw were wounded in Greece and for these he had a special word. His programme at the 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 he 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 the New Zealand troops in the Middle East. They were providing a very real and tangible link with home.

Mr Fraser has been a very welcome sight to the 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 called on the Egyptian Prime Minister, Hussein Sirry Pasha, who in return called on Mr Fraser at the British Embassy. VISIT TO N.Z. FORCES CLUB

Cordial messages of goodwill -were exchanged with the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo, which has been open for some time now, and last evening Mr Fraser saw for himself the very fine facilities available to soldiers while on leave in the city. He had dinner at the club and was struck by the enthusiastic way in which the men were enjoying themselves while he was there. For- their part they gave MiFraser a really rousing welcome, and wherever he went during his inspection of the premises he was met by smiling faces. Mr Fraser saw the new accommodation which has just been added to the club, expressing his delight at the amenities provided through the National Patriotic Fund. A further call is being made by Mr Fraser today on patients in hospital. He spent this morning at a large New Zealand camp seeing troops who returned to this country from Greece. He 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, wife of the British Ambassador. The principal object of the club is to provide recreational facilities for soldiers convalescing in hospital. It has succeeded admirably and is a firm favourite with the men stationed in the vicinity and a notable example of the fine work being done by voluntary helpers for the New Zealand troops everywhere.