VISIT TO GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2830, 22 July 1916, Page 9

VISIT TO GALLIPOLI

REPORT BY COLONEL RHODES

EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION

The report of Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Rhodes upon., his visit, to Egypt, Gallijoli, and the Mediterranean ivas presentid to. Parliament yesterday afternoon. • The report gives ' . full ; 'particulars the work done and .the inquiries made,and shoivs thatniuch,valuable, work was done in improving the. conditions of the men .in regird to ;■'postal and hospital matters. Some thirteen'..'special matters were referred to Mr. Rhodes for his consideration; and under each heading detailed particulars are given of the' inquiries made, and motion taken.' In reference to the special funds for the care of the : sick and wounded," Mr. Rhodes 6ays r that these funds were'administered by special committees at Cairo aaid Alexandria. This formed'.the'beginning of a good working, system, in which New Zealand was. .easily' first in-the field in setting an example whiclywas later followed oy othfer countries. New Zealand also initiated'a system by which men in liospital could' secure, -extra comforts, by drawing_ against their pay up to 3s. a week. Upwards of 1.20 visits were paid to. sick and wounded . 'convalescents, . and everywhere. nothing but good! ..was heard of ; the men from-medical offloers, nurses, and others. . Attention was. also; given to the graves of the. dead,. and a. scheme ■n-ould.be;subm.itte<l the beautifying of the Anz'ac zone.'. This scheme was prepared by Mr., W.- Draper,, director of-the Egyptian Government . .Gardens at the Delta Barrage, but .upon it: Mr! Rhodes 'coihments thai obviously Mr. Draper had-never visited '.Gallipbli, and' he 'thought 'personally --that 'the plaoe should be Kept as - much as '. possible'in a state of : ni.hire.' ■

When the report was presented, ' •- >;. Mr. T. M.'W jlford said that he .would like-to ■ take • this : c>f esp'ressS? a PP reo of' the lion.' member for-Ellesmere for his -unselfish' wg'rk on ibehalf of- • .this. country..'. /He - had given up-many .months of his time -and practically out of./good..heartedness-- and good feeling. .investigated mahy matters which were of ' great concern to . this country, find also reported of 'vital -conccrttto.the parents'- of. those who had .sons at.the.front. Ho was .personally indebted to Mr. Rhodes,' and ,was glad that his work would be given permanent record.

.'Mr. G. Witty endorsed the remarks of i but said- that appreciation should also ,be expressed '• of ./the work done- by "Mr.. R. M'Callum' ,the / member for_Wairau, who made an/.unofficial trip to' Egypt' and' secured niUch information of ivalue to the'parents, in New .Zealand. Dr. H. T. •J. Thaoker: held'that the report should first - have : been eirciilatod to enable members.to speak of. wliat it-con-.t-ained. .He/ /had' no. doiibt .that-- Colonel Rhodes ..had done .good." work,,-but''mem-' bera.should.know:.what the,report -contained. '

. Ell (Christchurch. South) joined in expressing appreciation of the work done by Mr. Rhodes,.: and-was, : ; foV lowed by several other members in simi-' lar vein.

Mr. R.'H. Rhodes' said he wished to thank the hon. members who - had spoken for their appreciation of the work he had done. It was a pleasure to him to have done any service for. the country. He would, however,-like to. place on record his appreciation of Mr. Crow, his private secretary, who accompanied 1 him on his trip. At all times he was most assiduous in- his never relaxed his efforts to assist hini.'

Tlie Hon.-J.' Allen cordially : endorsed the statements made regarding the value . of the work done by Mr. Rhodes- in / Egypt and' elsewhere. When members read Mr; Rhodes'a report tliey would be '' satisfied with'the work done. -The'' report would-disolose that the: position . of-- af- • fairs was very much more favourable than "bad been thought w«3 the case. "He also expressed his appreciation"' 'of . - Mr. ' Rhodes's; patriotic attitude, in re-, fusing.. to draw pa}'- for. s : -his' ..exjienses. xTfpon,. the ..reorganisation,,. 'of _ ~ thp 'postaljseiTices.rlie announced,,that'it* hod- ,b<»n-anyiv!ge<i: that:the senio.r- postal, ' officer, Mr; Holdswor.th, .should- go'to, the front and,assist in tlie prospective • Te- . organisation of tho /service. -.-. The report was ordered to.;be printed. . ,