OUR SICK AND WOUNDED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1432, 3 August 1915, Page 3

OUR SICK AND WOUNDED.

AUXILIARY HOSPITAL IN ENGLAND. LORD LIVERPOOL’S SCHEME His Excellency the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool) has handed to us for publication the following message to the public :■ — ‘ HOSPITAL SHIP FUND. ‘ To the People of New Zealand. “ The actual amount subscribed to the Hospital Ship F'und amounted to ,£47,548 17s, which I desire to say far exceeded my e xpectations. “In my letter to the public Press on May 26 1 enumerated some of the articles which would he required for the equipment of the ship ; and as far as I could, I estimated the approximate cost of such equipment. This, of course, included many items not specified by me, and which I believed could only be acquired by being purchased.

“ The actual money expended on equipment will be approximately £16,000. Now, in many instances, articles which it was never thought likely would be forwarded (as they were not specified in the list of suggested goods) were donated, and, fuither, the donors forwarded sums of money as well, with the result that the equipment was earned out at a considerably less cost than could possibly have been anticipated. What to do With This Srßpr.rs. “ So many donors, in writing to me said that they were in entire accord that we should utilise money for the use of the sick and wounded wherever it was required, and therefore made further contributions, with the desire that the surplus should be as large as possible, while at the same time intimating that the upkeep of the equipment of the Hospital Ship should be our first care. I quite concur myself with these views, and I have thought it desirable to ask certain gentleman to assist me with their advice as to the administration of the surplus. They are ; The Hon. Colonel J. Allen, M.P., A. Myers, Esq., M.P., Brigadier-General A. Robin, C. 8., C.M.G., and Their Worships the Mayors of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. These gentlemen have most kindly agreed to assist me in every way possible. “ I have during the last few weeks been in close communication with all the centres abroad where our wounded are located, and have got definite information that they are receiving every possible attention. This has been furthur confirmed by personal letters from the men to myself, and where men have been scattered, arrangements have been made to beep in close touch with them. “ I dispatched in the Maheno 32 cases for use in the base hospitals in Egypt, and after communication with the Governor and Coramander-inChief in Malta (Field-Marshal Lord Methuen), money and papers were dispatched for the sick and wounded in that island. I think, therefore we can consider that the wants of our men are very well attended to both in Egypt and Malta. At the same time if gifts ate dispatched to either of these two bases, the articles enumerated in my letter to the newspapers on July 6, namely:— Medium weight shiits (woollen materia!) Vests Drawers Socks Pyjamas Cholera belts Bandages would always be acceptable, and the Secretary of Internal Affairs would always he prepared to arrange for their dispatch. For Sick and Woundkd in England. “Where, however, I propose to devote my chief attention at the present time is to those sick and wounded at present in England. Lord Plunket, who is chairman of the New Zealand Committee in Gieat Britain for assistmg our sick and wounded, has acquired an auxiliary hospital at Walton onThatnes, called ‘iMount Felix,’ which will accommodate some no beds, but which be assures me can be extended to carry 300 or 400 beds, and which needs considerable support. He further adds that this scheme has the full concurrence of the Army Council. “Let it he distinctly borne in mind that the Imperial Government has made adequate arrangements tor the care of New Zealand sick and wounded, but they cannot necessarily guarantee that they can be located in one hospital, and it is for this reason the New Zealanders at Home have started this institution which is assisted by the New Zealand Government, the Imperial Government, and private contributions. It is readily understood that it is a great boon to the wounded to be associated with their own comrades. “At a meeting held at Government House, Wellington, on July 29th, I put all these views before the gentlemen who I have said have been kind enough to advise me, and I propose with their full concurrence to devote our energies to assisting Lord Plunket and bis committee in furthering their alms, as by doing so I feel convinced we shall materially assist the comfort of our sick and wounded. “We have also agreed to place all moneys on deposit, making arrangements for withdrawal when necessary, but at the same tinje not to allow the balance in the bank to iaU below a certain

figure, sn that it will he available lor replenishing anything required for the'Maheno. By this arrangement I am convinced that we shall be able to put the generous donations of the New Zealand people to their fullest use. Freight Facilities. “In conclusion, I should like to take this opportunity as the Head of the Order of St. John in New Zealand, of thanking the several shipping companies who trade direct with the United Kingdom from New Zealand for having so generously carried various hospital requirements free since the com*> menceraent of the war. Owing to the fact, however, that we have now a large number of sick and wounded located in Egypt and the Mediterranean, the P. and O. and Orient Steamship Companies have been approached, and have also kindly consented to allocate certain space for the same ; e. In order to allow ns to lake advantage of this offer, the Union and Hnddart-Paiker Steamship Companies have kindly agreed to carry the goods free to Australia. “All applications for space should he made direct to the Under • Secretary for Internal Affairs, Wellington, who will ascertain when and how the goods can be dispatched. “Liveklool, Governor.'’