SOLDIERS' COMFORTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2355, 11 January 1915, Page 6

SOLDIERS' COMFORTS

WHERE HELP IS NEEDED ■ ADVICE FROM THE- DEFENCE MINISTER Some explanations which, may serve to direot into the proper channels the efforts of thosa who wish, to help to equip the men of our Expeditionary Force with certain necessaries and comforts, were made to a Dominion reporter by the Hon. James Allen, Defence Minister, on Saturday. "I should like the public to know," said Mr. Allen, "that the Defence Department is providing full equipment for every man who goes into camp. If patriotic societies provide a portion of any man's equipment, that is recorded, and as soon as a man pets into camp the Defence Department supplies him with the balance, to make up the full equipment. But if the.V come in without a thing wo provide them with a full equipment. "Lady Liverpool and the ladies working with her are providing the men with some little additional equipment, like Balaclava caps, cholera belts, and things of that kind, which .we do not provide. I do think this is work thait ought to go on during the whole of the war, not only because it is of great benefit to the soldiers themselves to have these little additional comforts, but also because I think it is a splendid thing for our women to feel that they are doing something for our soldiers at the front, and therefore doing something for the cause for which our soldiers are 'to fighit. But tihe soldiers are being thoroughly provided for with everything the.v want. If the Patriotic Committees provide some of the equipment, the {Defence Department will be very grateful to them for so. doing. "It has been thought jby some, the Mayor of Wellington, for instance, that additional vegetables and fruit and smoking materials should be supplied to the troops. The Defence Department does not do this, but is very grateful for any assistance of. the kind. The Mayor of Wellington feels that all the effort should not come from Wellington, and he is trying to interest other Mayors in the scheme. I understand his idea is not to call for riny additional money from the public, hut contributions in kind from Wellington or elsewhere, and for donations. out of' existing patriotic funds already raised. . "May T suggest that the 'Patnotio Committees might be of material assistance to some of the officers who may find the allowances given to them not quite sufficient to provide things like field-glasses, which are part of an officer's equipmentP If the Patriotic Committees oould assist some of the officers in this' way they would be doing splendid work." NURSES FOR THE FRONT CHANCES OF NEW ZEALANDERS. In Dunedin recently a deputation waited upon the Hon. James Allen. Minister of Defence, and requested New Zealand nurses should be sent to the front with the Expeditionary Force. After that interview Mr. Allen sent to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, now in New Zealand, the following telegram:— ''If reinforcements of nurses for the Australian Hospitals in France are required, would you accept the services of any New Zealand trained nurses? A deputation waited upon_ me to-day and informed me that trained nurses in New Zealand would willingly volunteer for such service." Mr. Andrew Fisher forwarded the telegram to the Federal Defence Minister, who has sent/the following reply to Mr. Allen:— "Not anticipated .any nurses as reinforcements will be required for some months. If reliefs sent will endeavour to include some New Zealand nurses."