SUGGESTIONS FROM EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 14 April 1916, Page 3

SUGGESTIONS FROM EGYPT

LETTER FROM DR. AGNES . BENNETT. Another letter which has been re* ceivod by tho Mayoress (Mrs. Luke) from Dr. Agnes Bennett, written on March 1, states that tho .gifts which were 6eiit by the Countess of Liverpool Fund had arrived, and she wished to thank/tho Mayoress and her workers for them v "I hope they and you," sho goes on to say, "will not be disappointed when I tell you that want of space obliged me to give a good deal to the Red Cross for distribution. ' Eighteen cases suddenly arrived upon us, and wo had only space to store four or five of them. I had to send them to the Red Cross stores, and from there I have picked those wanted at once, and also sent 6omo things to the Soldiers' Cafe, which Mrs. De Castro is going to distribute. About sending cases I It is difficult to explain to you all the pros and cons, but I think your best plan Is to send them to Captain Green (c/o Colonel Essen). He is the Padre, and Is given a store in which to put away the things. That is what we so lack. Would you try and put all similar goods packed in same case. The mix-t-fl cases are most difficult to deal with. The most useful case from this lot was that containing 104 pairs of pyjamas and 25 pairs of shoes. Tying them up. in bundles as some of them were done was most helpful..

"As regards the 2000 pyjamas which X mentioned! A Soldiei-s' Rest is about • to bo started here, and it is needed indeed. There are no decent moderatepriced beds for the night to be had, and the men come for their 48 hours from the Canal, Zone or other distant ramps. A'hot bath and a good bed would do much to restoring the selfrespect that has such a tendency to disappear in this camp life. For this.reason I do feel that every' trouble .should.bo taken to give them well-cut, clean pyjamas. If possible make the pyjamas uearly all of the 6ame colour and material. It is most difficult to get the ones that match, together,_ and I bate to see them going round in parti* coloured suits. It does not counteract the, demoralisation. .

"I do not think that cases should be allocated to different classes of men You have no idea of how it would be (i.e:, to distribute the goods of one case to. the orderlies). A lew would' get nearly everything. Of course with the books and music, that is different. I

bought 100 pairs of white canvas shoes and gave them round. These are much appreciated, as only the boots and hard slippers without heels, are given ..out, and the boys' legs ache with them. I have bought a good many of these shoes now.. They are only sixpence each, and are made by, the prisoners horo. In addition I am- going to give them all (the orderlies) sleeping suits, as theso are not issued. I sent .100 pairs of islippers to ons of the sisters at Pont de Koubbeh Hospital as a New Zealand gift.' '■'~..

"I am glad that your gifts are not specially Red Cross gifts, as the Red Cross cannot help anything outside tho sick and,the wounded. I do think that if we can send'comforts ; to the men in the trenches we should do so. The 'Australian War Chest' is splendid in that way, but the whole commissariat of an army is such a big problem that one must 1 not be disappointed if the comforts 'missfire' and don't arrivo just where they should. No one can realise what a gigantic business this all. is till they, have caught a glimpse of/what— to an individual—can at best bo but the fringe of the whole.

"Waste also is absolutely -unavoidable in war. Wo must over-supply.; Tho tremendous medical preparations we made in Egypt for .the evacuation of Anzac,_.with hardly a casualty, is an il. lustration. The authorities were yuite certain they were not going to have a repetition of the conditions .that prevailed at the landing itihie. 1 think that so long a 6 the minimum waste of life prevails we must not quarrol with waste in other directions. ( Hospital ships and the like'all come'under the same category. "The very heartiest thanks are due to Mrs. Preston, of the St. John Am bularice Brigade Overseas and Red Cross Society, for gifts, and to the sender, of the Sanson gift. "The Y.M.C.A. is doing a splendid work here.- It will probably co-operato with the Soldiers' Rest. .The Volun. teer Sisters are all doing good work, and are' indefatigable. Another New Zealand worker here is Mrs. De Caetro. Her work at the Cafe is splendid, and she has been one of the most forcible promoters of the Soldiers' Rest. I am sure' towels ' will be needed at that place; probably 'in hundreds."

The coat room at the Sydney Street Soldiers' Club next week will be in charge of Mrs. Somerville Sunday; Miss Jenkyns,. Monday; Miss M. Wheeler, Tuesday; Miss Mackellar, Wednesday ; Miss Marshall, Thursday; Mrs. J. D Gray, Friday; Mr. .R. Darroch, Saturday. ' „ v

Miss Mary Threlkold . (Christchnrch) is leaving by the Araiva for England, It is her intention to take up nursing.'

•The enormous increase in the cost or drugs and chemists' materials is too well known to need further comment, and the advance has been specially noticeable in materials used, in the preparation of Sydal, the famous Hand Emollient. Careful calculations show that Sydnl now costs considerably over twice as much to manufacture, and consequently the Proprietors have been reluctantly compelled to increase the price to 2s. per jar. A pot of Sydal lasts the careful housewife several months, and moreover keeps her hands and skin from roughness,, redness and soreness, while a very 6mall quantity should, only be used in order to obtain best results.—Advt.