A MISSION OF MERCY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16418, 11 January 1919, Page 8

A MISSION OF MERCY.

WORK OF COLONEL R. HEATON RHODES. STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. As is well-known, Colonel the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., has been absent from New Zealand for several months engaged in Red Cross work and other missions of mercy. At the opening of the Tai Tapu flower show yesterday communications were read from Colonel Rhodes announcing the class of work he was engaged in when writing, and a statement was also made by the Acting-Prime Minister, Sir James Alien. A letter from Colonel Rhodes, dated London, September 4th, which was addressed to Mr T. O. Morgan, was read by that gentleman. "Some timo ago," said Colonel Rhodos, "I instructed Messrs HatchajtJ's, booksollcrs in London, to forward you the I volumes that have been published of 'The Times History of the War' for the library, and to continue to send other volumes until tho completion of tho odition. I trust these will reach you in due course, and. perhaps you will let me know if at any timo a volume has gone astray. As you know, I am settled for a time in this country, and Mr Hardy is keeping an eye on my electorate. You will see him, I hopo, in Tai Tapu from time to time. In going through our hospitals I often think of the work you and the good ladies of Tai Tapu are doing on behalf of the Red Cross. I expect everyone is working away as energetically as ever, and, I hope, will continue to do so until the end of the war. New Zealand is continuing to send us more than we actually require for our own hospitals, but the surplus goods are, according to _ instructions, passed on to the British Red Cross or St. John Ambulance Association. and recently I was able to supply the Australian Red Cross Commissioner with somo garments that they were short of. This I was glad to do, as it was some slight return for what they had done for our mounted brigade in Palestine. lam relieved to hear that the great _ snow- 4 storm, did little or no damage in your district. Please remember me to all good friends and with kind regards to yourself and Mrs Morgan." In a postcard, dated November Ist, from Switzerland, addressed to the Hon. C. A. C. Hardy, M.L.C., Colonel Rhodes said: "I have just finished a visit to fifteen New Zealanders interned in Switzerland. I found them in Interlaken Murren, Chateau d'Oen Vevey. and Geneva. •' All are doing well, but, of course, anxious to pet hack or to get another smack at the' Boche. Some are attending educational classes, others are in mechanical workshops, but tho instruction rriven is not eoual to tho standard in Now Zealand hospitals and camps in Eneland, there beino; too many difficulties' in the way."

In the course of his speech at the opening of the flower show. Sir James Allen tiaid Colonel Rhodes had been sent on a mission of mercy to France, and he was also chairman of the Red Cross. He (Sir James Allen) had askod Colonel Rhodes to visit as many as possible of the French hospitals established in France for Fronch women and children driven out of thefr homes bv the Germans. Some of these refuerees were supported, at any rate, by the hospital supported bv the New Zealand Gayernment. He hoped shortly to have Colonel Rhodes's report. He hoped the French people would benefit bv what New Zealand was dninq; for,them. Every part of New Zealand would join heartilv in wishing that the French people would soon have their devastnted oountry restored, a work in which New ZeaInnders would be only too pleased , to help.