WILLOCHRA'S WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 14 July 1915, Page 8

WILLOCHRA'S WOUNDED

WHAT, SORT QE RECEPTION

DIFFERENT IDEAS : 'A' series of ..questions concerning the reception'to bo accorded to the wounded men arriving. by : .the Willochra tomorrow wero asked- in tho House yesterday afternoon 1 . ; - . iilhd.Minister/.of-Defence-, after explaining thflc some of tho cases would 00. couyAlescent aiid'spme.ho'spital cases, Shid that''the' for the Tectption were: not qmto completo. • iMr.i.'Wilford:-Will it be in the Town Hall"

Mr. Allen; - Yos. . : Mr. AVilfard: That'is ridiculous. !A miserable place liko l that! • • i Mr. Allen:: Well, ;I.,am not prepared to ask .these men'to parade tlio streets,. : Mr.- Walford: T. don't suggest that. : Mr.: Alien • explained - that' relatives and-.next-of-kin .-would; be given an opgoing. on board the ship to see their; men, and that they would get permits .from tho Public Health Depart-ment.--H% also stated, in reference to a 'c'aspVwted .by Mr. Glover, that ho thought';there would be no objection to a; .member', ".authorised by letter from relatives. ainablo to b'e present themselves) to. go on board the ship to meet tho';men concerned.:'

■ Later Mr. Wilford asked the Primo Minister to put'his foot down on any proposal.:to Vgivo the men luncheon or .tea in 'the Towiv Hall-. He hoped rather that tho Government would declare a public' holiday in order'that tho people should; be allowed •to go' to., tho . wharf niul tliero give. the men a cheer, and. "a proper British' welcome." The troops> would bo shown .what- New Zealand thought 'of them-on their return.

: Mr. Massey;. I am rather surprised to hear froni' the honourable) gentleman that''the''Wellington Town Hall is a cold and cheerless place.' That has not been my , experience. (Laughter.). I quite- agree''■nitli the opinion expressed by .the . honourable gentleman that wo .should give these men who have fought arid .bled: for, us the welcome they Reserve, but I. do not agree that tlicy should have refreshments m tho Town' Hall; I do tlimk wo should give t>he men:lunch'or tea, or whatever is suitable to -Hie timo of day. I wish to say that I hope a half-holiday will be grant ed,' and that, the people of Wellington and; the-visitors here, will be given every opportunity of. showing their sense of gratitude to the me'n rao havo just returned from.: the other' side of the' world. .

A HOSPITAL TRAIN. TO TAKE SICK MEN HOME.' In order to comfortably accommodate the: men who are to go .into hospital in Auckland,; and ofher parts of tho North Island outside- of Wellington on their, arrival by tho Willociira, tho Railway. : Department 'has ' had a hospital train fitted: up. The longitudinal seats havo been taken out of one of the 50ft. cars, "and' it'" has: been fitted - : up with twenty-four, berths inOtwo double: tiers of six ..each (upper, and lower), on-both sides: of the car. - In cases in which there will, not'be ; more than twelve pa--tients, tho upper tiers of beds can bo folded, up, so: as to. give the-men' 1 in the lower beds.,an even greater degree of space • and comfort. The. berths which are two feet wide, are provided . Excellent' provision "has-been made for:. ventilation, whilst .hot and cold water'will ; be available aVone end of tho car. The carriage; wiis; thoroughly: fumigated auddis-infect-ed before being fitted up, ; and tlio interior has been painted. white. Large Geneva Red Crosses will be affixed to the. exterior.

,i'A; -.pharmacy > car;. 44ft.in - length has'. ;alsp|b6en'fitted Tip., This'isdivided.into two compartments,' ono of which will bo-; occupied-, by tho; staff, • whilst tho other will ,be used as a dispensary.- A dining-car and'lnggage:'van will also be provided. Tlie k liospital train will riin tOiAuckland, Wanganui, Now Plymouth, Napief,; : :apd ;6tjierTstations; as. circumstances may require"; ' The train,' which will; travel slowly,, will bo as suitably tuned as .possible in order to ensure a minimum of:' shunting. One 'of tho most experienced . and careful drivers will be clujsen to drive the train..