THE INQUIRY OFFICER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2548, 24 August 1915, Page 6

THE INQUIRY OFFICER

? TO GO TO EGYPT ~ XIEUT.-COL. R. H. RHODES SELECTED Tlio Government. has selected Lieu-tenant-Colonel R. Heat-on Rhodes, lately Postmaster-General, to go to Egypt to ' report on certain matters connected with the administration at the, New Zealand base, about which the people of New Zealand have been concerned for some time past. _ The duties of Colonel Rhodes have not yet been defined exactly, but the Defence Minister (the Hon. J. Allen) has addressed to him a memorandum making the' following suggestions as to inquiries that might be made, (1) Information to be sent to New Zealand as to sick and wounded, and uniformity in the hospital reports, so as to Rive the fullest information possible. • (2) The accommodation and general treatment of New Zealanders in hos- i pitals and convalescent Homes, including the possible aggregation of New Zealanders in one or more hospitals under Now Zealand medical officers and nurses. (3) The comfort of tho sick and wounded. (4) The receiving of gift goods and stores through the' Government for soldiers. and the treatment of the goods oil arrival, and their distribution. . (5) The funds sent through Government channels for the comfort of tho siok and wounded, including the receiving, distributioiij and regular accounting for the same. (6) The funds and gift goods sent through other channels than the Government. (7)' The return of the sick and wounded to New Zealand, selection of-men to be returned, and especially the sending of due notice to the: Defence Department as to the number being returned and the nature of their wounds. (8) The clothing of wounded soldiers and their outfits. (9) Information with regard to men killed in action, and ■ especially those who die in hospital. Relatives dosiro Darticulars of death, burial, and place of interment. >. (10) Arrangements necessary to deal with moneys belonging to deceased soldiers and held in banks, etc., in Egypt or Malta. (11) Tho kits and belongings of deceased soldiers. (12) The mail and postal services, and especially ' the alleged non-delivery or lato delivery of mails and parcels. Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes is a Territorial. officer. commanding the Canterbury Mounted Brigade. He served with tho New Zealand forces in the South African TVar, so that he is not without first-hand knowledge of tho difficulties he may have to encounter. As Postmaster-General also he had to do with the establishment of tho inquiry bureau; which undertakes to supply to people wishing to have it all available information about members of tho forces, tlio dispatch of letters and parcels. and a host of other matters. Ho has in his capacity of Minister of Public Health until recently assisted the Defence Minister. by relieving him of the administration of military'nospitals, and he took over this task when the epidemic of sickness at Trentham Camp was at its worst. Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes will probacy leave for Egypt next week.