HOSPITAL SHIP

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2472, 27 May 1915, Page 7

HOSPITAL SHIP

BIG UNDERTAKING . READY BY JUNE 20 i The Minister of Defence (tho Hon. James Allen) states that tho Hospital Ship, tho Maheuo, is under orders to go to Port Chalmers direct, where she will bo tittcd up. The conveniences at Port Chalmers were greater thau at Wellington for tho speedy accomplishment of this work. The work will bo do no under the direction of the Transport Board. Tho fittiug up and general renovation of the Maheuo, the Minister added, would be more complete and elaborate than was at first anticipated. It appeared, from what tho board had told him, that it would be necessary to take out practically almost tho whole of the cabin accommodation to make provision for the necessary hospital wards and operating-rooms, laundry, bakeries, and all the other accommodation required. _"] want the public to understand," said Mr. Allen, "that every penny of expenditure on the fitting up which I have mentioned is coming out of the Government money, and not out of the fund subscribed by the public; and that all the cost of the hire of the vessel, and of the coaling and provisioning and the payment of J;he wages of the crew, is being borne by the Government. It will cost the Government a considerable sum of money. The cost of the hire will be a pretty largo "sum per month. That is all being borne by the Government. The Government is prepared to do its full duty in respcct to this hospital ship." The primary object of the ship was to carry the wounded from the Dardanelles to Malta and Egypt. It might be used for other purposes, either to carry wounded to England or to be used as a temporary hospital. The ship was being so fitted up that it could bo used for either of these purposes: and all this added to the expense of the fitting out. The crew and officers would be carefuly selected in view of the class of work. The Union Company would make the choice and the names will be submitted to the Minister for approval. The hospital staffs the Hon. Dr. Collins had in hand. The other staffs, which included ordinary ambulance men, clerks, and dispensers, and so on, would be selected from each district, and recommended to the Minister for approval. , It was hoped, said the Minister, to have tho ship ready by June 20. M'AHENO AT PORT CHALMERS. BEFITTING WILL TAKE THREE WEEKS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! Dunedin, May 26. The Union Company's steamer Msheno _ arrived at Port Chalmers this morning from Sydney to undergo alterations in connection with being fitted out as a hospital ship. The work will proceed continuously until the fitting out of tho vessel is completed. The fitting out will probably take three • ' weeks. AUCKLAND'S EFFORT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) i Auckland, May 26. Although Auckland was only official- ' fy advised this morning that its share ■ of the cash contribution towards tho i equipment of the Hospital Ship would ■ be £6250, that amount is already more than subscribed. The Town Hall list to-night amounts to £3300, and the "New Zealand Herald" list to £3791, . all collected since Friday morning. j In tho list of requisites for the Hos- ' pital Ship published yesterday was 2400 ' pillowslips (21in. by 32in.). Wo are ( mforffiCd that the stock size is 20in. by ' 30in. 1 A Press Assoc'ation teiegram from ' Christchurch says I The appeal for i funds for the Hospital Ship issued by the ] "Press" Company resulted in <£1000 being . paid into the office during the first week.