N.Z. WAR CONTINGENT WORK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2901, 13 October 1916, Page 3

N.Z. WAR CONTINGENT WORK

MEETING RED CROSS NEEDS AT HOME .'■ At the Red Cross Depot in Mercer Street, Mr. Bernard Tripp, who has returned from investigating the needs of our sick and wounded soldiers in England and in Egypt, gavo an interesting account of what was being done both by the British Red Cross organisation, and also by the New Zealand War Contingent Association in this direction.

Mr. Tripp started by saying that a, question that appeared to have been agitating the minds ,of people- in this country was as to'why it was necessary for the New Zealand hospital ships to come back to New Zealand with sick and wounded soldiers instead of being kept to ply backwards and forwards with the wounded from Franco to England. Mr. Tripp.was told by the authorities that there was a certain proportion, of wounded nieii whoso wounds took a very long time to heal, and if they were kept on in the hospitals these quickly became congested as fresh casualties were brought in.' It was necessary to make room for the fresh cases, but at the same time these cases of men with wounds that took a long time "to recover wero not fit to send out to New. Zealand when they left the hospitals in the troopships, as certain comforts and attention were needed. That was -why tho hospital ships wero utilised for these cases.

Mr.- Tripp visited the hospitals in Egypt, and found, in answer, to his inquiries, and also saw for himself, that they had everything they needed in the way of hospital equipment. Things, however, that were always welcomed there were tinned fruits, meat extracts, and apples, and ho wondered if it were not possible to send apples to Egypt for the men thoro. Such tilings as soup and Jemon squash tablets could easily he forwarded from England, and if money wero sent to England tho Commissioner could always sond out what was. noeded.'

" When he was in' England tho wounded were arriving from France at tho rate of 7000 a day. Stretchers, hospital trains, etc., were there to meet the men and convoy them, to tho different hospitals. On their arrival tho 1 New Zealand soldiers were with the I ttritish and other wounded first, sent /wherever there, was room, but after [that they were gradually collected and ! sent to the different hospitals for Now ■Zealanders. At Brockenhurst No. 1 thero were (1500 beds, at Forest Park (Brockenhurst) 150 for officers, at Wal-ton-on-Thames 520 beds, at Codford 350, and at the Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 625 beds.' The men were divided into five classes, indicating the different stages of recovery, and wcro gradually exercised in ways calculated to aid recovery. The organisation of the New. Zealand hospitals had v been carried out by General Richardson and Colonel Parkcs (R.A.M.C.), and thoy had done excellent work.

At ■'■ Southampton, General Richardson had opened stores for Red Cross goods, and Countess of Liverpool Fund Bupphes. Captain Green was in charge and ho had a .good staff under-him. Whatever was wanted for tho Now Zealanders from these stores was sent on, and what was left over was passed on to the other hospitals if.they wcro short. j As the British authorities / had thought it desirable that New; Zealand should have its own Red Cross organisation, Mr. Charles Elgar was appointed, Red Cross Commissioner, with an office ill the New Zealand Buildings. Australia, Canada, South Africa, all., had their own commissioners, and it had been-frankly "told- Mr; Tripp that if. iNew. Zealand formed its own Red Cross organisation a great deal would be done to relieve the British organisation of responsibilities and labours in this direction.

Tho New. Zealand War Contingent Association had practically been doing Red Cross work during the war. Every town in whose hospitals Now Zealand soldiers wore quartered had its visiting committee formed in connection with the. association, and a report of every 'soldier's. condition was sent to the' "association's headquarters in London. By means of this a tally was kopt of the New Zealanders, and of the hospitals in which they were place.d. Tho association, had. opened a hostel in Russell; Square, where, for the convenience of -men* returning „from leave from France, or else.up from the training camps beds, refreshments .and recreation were provided. Another, on similaivlines, had been opened at Salis-bury-Plains,, and in tho different camps tho association runs canteens,' where the men in 'training can obtain refreshments. .

Mr. Tripp enumerated the goods, which were wanted by the War; Con-' tingent Association, and which have" already been published. He had been told that .there had hceii a good deal of • wonderment expressed as to why no moro bandages wore wanted at the present time. One reason, for that was the different way in which.wounds were, now treated as tho latest method followed was to leave them exposed to tho : open air as much as Of course bandages were used on the field of battle for 'first; aid...dressings, -but after that they were not nearly so much used.' General . Richardson had told him there were great supplies of them in'tho stores. Canada - also : had supplies, and 'had' offered them 'to lrancq,;but France had declined them. 1 hen, bandages had been sent to Serbia, and at first tho Serbians had been eery glad of- them. Now they, too, did not apparently need them. He had beard tho Russians needed them. Mr. IVipp found while he was at homo that ftew Zealand goods appeared to shrink very much moro than goods from other places, especially pyjamas, and he wondered if they could not be made of some other material that did not shrink to such a degree. - The size of the cases m which goods were packed was next touched upon, and he advised his hearers to use cases that were the size of petrol cases. If too big cases were used they had to be repacked. When shipping them lists of the contents should bo given. These were specially' wanted. Another thing that was always wanted was money. Many things could be bought more cheaply at Home than here, and it would be.to their interest to send certain sums of money for this purpose. Then, again, sudden emergencies might arise, to meet which money would .be necessary. With a Red Cross organisation acting in conjunction withr the New Zealand War Contingent Association, Mr. Tripp thought that the wants and needs of the Now Zealand soldiers in England ivquld bo most excellently met. As it was, ho assured his hearers that people in Now Zealand might rest secure in tho knowledge that their sons, their hus-' bands, and men folk generally wero having everything dono for them that it was possible to have done.

A hearty votes of thanks to Mr. Tripp for his interesting account of the work dono for our soldiers was proSosed by Mrs. Luke (president of tho Cross Women's Committee), and passed, and a few questions wore asked and answered by Mr. Tripp. Afternoon tea was a. pleasant preliminary to the little mcetine:, which was composed only of the Red Cross workers at tho depot.