PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 70, 22 November 1915, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

AMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS. FUNCTIONS OF PATRIOTIC COMMITTEES. Tiio following is the programme of suggestions as ultimately adopted by the meeting in Wellington on Friday of representatives of the various Patriotic Comittees and the Hons. Itussell, Allen, Herdman and Myers, for recomemndation to the Patriotic Committees : 1. Provision for supplementing sepa-ration-allowance for wives of married soldiers where necessary. 2. Assistance to parents or others depending wholly or partially on soldiers or sailors. 3. Assistance to and comforts for children of soldiers, so that none may suffer from the absence of parents at the front. 3a. Additions to the incomes of soldiers, whether on service or discharged, where necessary. As the Defence Department is responsible for sick and wounded in England, Egypt, Malta, etc., but provides necessaries only, it is suggested that the patriotic public supply comforts for sick and wounded. The fund for this purpose applicable to comforts for sick and wounded in England is exhausted, some £5500 having been sent to the High Commissioner. There remain small balances available for Egypt and Malta. It is urgently necessary that more funds should be made available for this purpose. The following suggestions are made by Dr. Valentine, Inspector-General of Hospitals:— In the first place as a broad principle it might be agreed that all necessaries for the sick and wounded should be provided by the Government, but that anything partaking of a luxury should be provided by the patriotic societies.

1. Institutions. —The Government provides the various institutions that are necessary with a view to restoring the sick and wounded to their normal state of health, such as hospitals, sanatoria, etc. The patriotic societies might very well provide any special accommodation that may he necessary, such as: (a) Convalescent homes attached to the hospitals or thermal sanatoria ; and (b) Convalescent homes where patients could be provided with facilities for sea-bathing—a very important form of treatment for certain cases. 2. The wants of military patients in hospitals, convalescent homes, etc. — As for disciplinary reasons T believe it has been decided that military patients in hospital are not to receive their pay, the patriotic committees might t very well attend to the expenses con- ' nected minor wants of such patients, such as: (a) The provision of stamps, stationery, telegrams, the conduct of correspondence for those unable to write; and (b) The provision of reading material and luxuries as regards food and drink, sanctioned by the medical authorities. 3. To assist in providing suitable clothing for hospital.—This is a want very much in evidence, and some patriotic committees have provided uniform hospital clothing, outer as well as under-garments, and these have been very much appreciated by the men. Uniformity is needed so that the patients can be recognised as military patients. 4. The payment of the travelling expenses of relations of patients unable to afford the cost of visiting their soldier relations in hospital. 5. The provision of suitable games for the patients, means of recreation and employment.—ln this case much can be done by officers of the technical schools, who, if provided with the necessary funds, could set up workshops at the larger hospitals or convalescent homes, and by this means give their patients employment, which will not only help them to pass the a—— m raw