ATTENDED A WAR CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 123, 28 May 1941, Page 7

ATTENDED A WAR CONFERENCE

MR. FRASER’S TOUR INSPECTION OF N.Z. HOSPITAL SHIP VISITS TO WOUNDED MEN (From the N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) Cairo, May 26. I “Good as Gold.” The New Zealand Prime Minister ! Rt, Hon. Peter Fraser, thinks this I must be the motto of the New Zealanders, for as he visits the New Zea- I land war wounded and sick in various I hospitals throughout Egypt and' makes inquiries as to theft condition, i he invariably receives this reply. I On Saturday last, after attending a I war conference in the Middle East, | Mr. Fraser set out on a strenuous , two-day visiting programme. He saw war wounded in the big military hospitals at the rear of the canal zone, ; going from man to man. with the ; thermometer reaching 118 degrees in i the shade. Private Bernie Somerfield, of Linwood, Christchurch, recovering from the Greek campaign, was pleased to meet Mr. Fraser. Other men now well on the road to recovery who met the Prime Minister were Private . Charlie Ross, of Eskdale Sergeant Jack Hamilton, of Hawera. Private Dick Jessop, of Samoa, Private Len Chivers, of Christchurch, Private Ron ; Kirby, of Hamilton, Private Ron ’ Southern, of Invercargill. It was difficult for New Zealanders to visit these hospitals, and the men | were more than pleased to see no lesser person than the Prime Minister himself. Late that evening Mr. Fraser and the official party went aboard the New Zealand hospital ship No. 4G, a famous intercolonial steamer new a modern and well-equipped hospital ship. Originally commissioned in 1912, she has seen service on many Pacific trade routes. Vancouver, San Francisco, Honolulu, Papeete, Suva and Australian and New Zealand ports know her well. In 1914 she helped to ’ convey the main body overseas, and i in 1917 she transported American troops to France. Every ward is fitted with a refrigerator and the prevailing colour scheme, green, is particularly pleasing to the niedical authorities, who are onerating facilities and modern equipment. As a hospital ship she travels with all lights out, but nevertheless orderlies carry steel helmets and respirators and decontamination suits an. I available for all. The ship’s quartermaster was very proud to show me the diet sheet, which he and the ship'll dietician are able to provide. Whitebait and oysters are two delicacies that the quartermaster has up his sleeve. Amongst the crew are several tradesmen, several of whom saw service in the Great War. The ship’s plumber proudly told me how he himself saw service in the Great War. His son is now serving in the Second N.Z.E.F., and he is doing his bit again on the hospital ship. This is the spirit of New Zealand.

On Sunday morning, Mr. Fraser safely landed after a choppy voyage between the ship and shore, during which th-’ official photographer nearly lost his camera. Mr. Fraser was able to visit some New Zealanders who are working on our lines of communication. All were pleased to see him when he called. Mr. Fraser lunched at the officers’ mess in the New Zealand convalescent depot. Most of the convalescents are men who fought in the Greek campaign. Mr. Fraser was pleased to have another opportunity to hear further war experiences and talk with the men themselves and tell them news from back home. At a town nearby Mr. Fraser was able to see for himself the fine work the New Zealander, Mis's Jean Begg, is doing to provide recreational facilities and transit accommodation for nurses and women workers in the Army. The Y.W.C.A. there is comparatively new, but is just one o’ the many that Miss Begg hopes to establish throughout the Middle East.