WELL CARED FOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1523, 16 March 1916, Page 4

WELL CARED FOR.

SICK AND WOUNDED NEW ZEALANDERS. COLONEL RHODES’S REPORT. Lieut.-Col. Rhodes, who went to Egypt to investigate the administration of the New Zealand base and other matters affecting the men in hospitals and at the front, has reported to the Defence Minister on a series of definite enquiries. Following are certain extracts from the report: — “Nearly all patients are now aggregated in our General Hospital, Cairo, and Canal Auxiliary Hospital. Less than 100 remain at Malta, less than 50 in Alexandria, and it is being arranged to transfer the latter to Cairo. You will have my letter of 23rd January about Malta. I hope that all Malta patients will soon be removed, and that Chaplain Tobin may be given another appointment. “Chaplain Greene has been appointed now in charge of all gift goods stores. He meets ships arriving now that can reach our troops in the new station, personally superintends the repacking and distribution of all gift goods. The revised scheme organised by Col. Esson is, in my opinion, working well. Cases are still arriving containing parcels for men of various units, giving much work here, and causing delay in delivery. I strongly recommend the establishment of a central depot in Wellington for properly sorting and packing gift goods before despatch. “All funds sent through the Government of x New Zealand channels are administered by the Commandant • at Headquarters, New Zealand Expeditionary Force Staff, in conjunction with committee composed of the DeputyDirector of Medical Services, the senior mounted and the senior dismounted regimental officer at the station, Chaplain Greene, and matrons of the New Zealand Convalescent Home.

“Cash and goods sent to private individuals are delivered as soon as possible to them, or disposed of on their order. Frequently they are handed to the general fund and the gift section as far as these cases permit, with due regard to the donors' wishes.

“Men leaving the New Zealand General Hospital and the New Zealand Base are fully supplied with uniforms, clothing, and are fully equipped for the voyage home. At other hospitals regular issues are made, and the embarkation medical officer is always in attendance at Suez to rectify shortages. Both our hospital ships carry heavy Red Cross supplies, and the quartermasters in each troopship have a supply of uniforms and ordnance clothing. “If our troops remain in .Egypt as at present, I think services as now organised by Lieut. M Curdy would prove satisfactory, but in view of a big movement and the wide distribution of the troops, my opinion is that a New Zealand Director of Postal Services should be appointed. He must be a senior officer of the standing of an assistant chief postmaster, to be attached to the staff of the Commandant of the New Zealand base, and to travel from place to place, organising necessary services, while M’Curdy will probably follow the division.

“I can only repeat that men in all hospitals are treated well and are satisfied. Our troops are well fed. In view of the fact that the Imperial authorities now take over control of all supplies, future catering will rest with them. For the future comfort of our patients, the Red Cross ladies are providing many extra delicacies in our hospitals and in other hospitals in Egypt. In furtherance of this good work, I have allotted the O.C. part of the £IOOO placed at my disposal for sick and wounded by the Canterbury St. John Ambulance Association. New Zealand and other ladies have organised for patients in our hospitals and convalescent homes a system of excursions to interesting places in the neighbourhood of Cairo. The Y.M.C.A. and other Institutions have established reading, writing, recreation and refreshment rooms, which are appreciated highly by thousands of the Empire’s soldiers. Our medical and Army Nursing Service are thoroughly efficient. “You can again assure people in New Zealand our sick and wounded are exceedingly well cared for, as are the convalescents in Lady Godley’s and the Aotea Homes.

“The definite establishment of a headquarters’ branch of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, under a Commandant of Base, has provided for a very necessary link between New Zealand and various branches of the army on the field and elsewhere.”