AT THE N.Z. BASE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2626, 23 November 1915, Page 4

AT THE N.Z. BASE

LETTER FROM LIEUT. COL. RHODES

A letter has been received by the Prime Minister from Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes, M.P., who went to Egypt to inquire into the administration of Jhe New Zealand base and other matters. Colonel Rhodes's letter, which is dated October 13, refers to somo of the subjects about which he has yet to report in more detail.

"Though I have been in Egypt only five days," he writes, "I have already visited the No. 1 Stationary Hospital ,at Port Said, the Greek Hospital, and tho 21st General Hospital at Ras el Mn, Alexandria, also Lady Godley's convalescent liomes for officers and men. I talked with every New Zealander 1 met in these places, asked whether they were being well treated, and received not one complaint about treatment. The only complaints were about non-delivery of parcels and letters, and even on this question opinions were very varied. One has only to visit Egypt to appreciate tho difficulties of those at the bases.

"I have also paid three or four visits to our base depot arid spent half a day in our Records Office, and a couple of hours in the Base Post Office. In Col. Charters, commanding the New Zealand Base Depot, and Major Fitzherbert, O.C. Records, we have two capable officers, who are, I believe, supported by efficient staffs. , • r "Captain Green (commonly known to the men as 'Padre') of the Salvation 4 Army, is doing splendid work in visit, ing our sick and wounded, and attending to their wants. Men of all creeds swear by him. Colonel Esson, another very capable officer, has, I am sorry'to say, been very ill at Malta, but ho ia now, I believe, conva'escent. "I-also had the pleasure of spending a couple of hours aboard our hospital ship the day before she sailed for England. The hospital ship, all are agreed, is a credit to New Zealand. There is not a better hospital ship in the Mediterranean. I am now endeavouring to go to the Dardanelles."