NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2922, 7 November 1916, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS

ITS WORK IN LONDON

Mr. Bernard Tripp, wlio recently returned to New Zealand from a trip to England, gives somo interesting impressions, in an interview, of the work of tho Now Zealand Eed Cross on the war front and in England. These are published in tho Now Zealand "Red Cross Record." Ho says:— "The New Zcalandors havo a War (ConEhigent Association in London, oT which Sir Thomas Mackenzie is chairman, Lord Flmikofc, chairman of executive, Sir James Mills in charge of tho finance, and Miss Helen Mackenzie, chairwoman of the women's committee. I cannot speak too highly of this association and the good work it is doing in looking after our wounded and sick soldiers who arrivo in LonEvery town, where there is a 'has its committeo of ladies who visit and report on any Now Zealand soldiers who happen to bo there, to tho Central Office, Southampton' Row, London, so that none are overlooked. This is most important work and entails a great deal of labour, when one realises.that last July tho New Zealand wounded wore scattered about England in 110 various hospitals. They are gradually collected from theso hospitals and passed on to the New Zealand Military Hospitals throughout England. They havo also a largo hostel in Russell Square, London, where any New Zealand soldier can have refreshments and a comfortable bed, and another hostel situated in Salisbury. " 'I am'quito satisfied that the organisation is so good in England that tho people of Now Zealand who have sons fighting for us can rest assured that our wounded or sick soldiers will have every caro and comfort that is possible. In fact, no man could be better looked" after. Taking the organisation of the wounded right throughout Enjpland, ib seems very wonderful the way in which every man is looked aftqr from tho day ho is wounded on the battlefield until his arrival in hospital in England. ■ Most of the men come in' hospital ships from Prance Jo the Southampton Docks, whore men are unloading tho ships day and night into hospital trains, and from there they are discharged to tho various hospitals, and all this seems to go on without a hitch.

"In Egypt I found that-the.'New Zealand hospitals had moved . from there to England, and any New Zealanders that were wounded- would be looked after in the British and Australian hospitals. At present the only convalescent home for New Zealanders in Egypt is the Aotea Home, which I inspected, and consider it wonderfully well run. The only Red Cross goods the New Zealandcrs require in Egypt are tinned foods, such as tinned fruit, meat extracts,,and any comforts of a tinned kind that will keep in'the heat of the desert. They are supplied with any-garments that are necessary for hospital by the British and Australian Red Cross.

■In England the following goods are wanted for the hospitals:—Pyjamas, draw sheets, ward slippers, socks, blue hospital suits,, shirts with pockets, tinned goods, such as fruits, meat extract, tinned milk, etc.' I found that they do not require any-more nightingales, bandages, or splints. , The only complaint I heard about the New Zealand Red Cross i goods were that their flannels were inclined to shrink very much after boing washed. ■ "I'left New Zealand as the Red Cross representative in April' last in the hospital ship Maheno. I cannot speak too highly of the : way the ship was run, and the splendid equipment on board to deal with the wounded. The Maheno has done splendid,- work in Home waters, and I understand she is returning'toNew;.Zealand shortly with cases that are too bad to send in transports, and-the same with the hospital ship Marama. A number of people in New Zealand do not seem to understand that the hospital 6hips have to return to New.Zealand periodically with these bad cases.' The New Zealand hospitals become congested with cases that are too bad to return otherwise, and consequently these ships havo to return here every now and then. The same applies to the Australian hospital ships.,

"When in England I inspected the New Zealand Military Hospital Ships and Stores, which were wonderfully well organised, and the New Zealand wounded soldiers are looked after with the best possiblo caro. -The following aro the New Zealand hospitals. No. 1 General, Brockenhurst, with 1500 'V. beds.

Forest Park Hospital, Brookenhurst, for Officers, with 150 heds. No. 2 General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 520 .beds. No. 3 Codford Hospital, with 350 beds. Hornchurch .Convalescent Hospital, with 625 beds. .

,"At. Southampton • there aro New Zealand stores for the reception of all New Zealand Red Cross goods. Thesegoods.are consigned to the New Zealand Gift Stores, 'M' Shed, ■Southampton Docks. "The stores aro under the 'charge of Captain Greene. He is a very capable man, and hasa good staff under him. They meet'all our-ships, and take all goods, 60-that there is no chance of them going astray. The goods not required for the New Zealand hospitals or men at the front, avo passed on to the British Red Cross.