CONDITION OF WOUNDED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 241, 2 July 1915, Page 2

CONDITION OF WOUNDED.

[p I INFORMATION 1/ ALLEN SAYSJ, P fcs t-i-BH ?i ■ m fs ; l|v. r Ou|p pOj NO 'GjQOIHi,. WELLINGTON, June 30 The uestion for the need for an improved system of Teporting upon the • condition of tlie sick ,wou.nd-ecLNew Zealand soldiers on .actios -se-rvlco v.-p.s raised in the house to-day by the Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi). He asked the Postmaster-General ■'■ ■ (the-■• Ji'o'n?■■','}.{. 11. Rhodes) if any better system could be adopted with; regard to information for of f \fouhded soldiers at the he said, the son of a man in his district had been"Jvounded three weeks ago, and although his fathfn gabled- tub ■ had received ■no reply. There was another case of parents who lost one ,son and had been informed through the newspapers that their second son was convalescent, and could not "the Postmaster-General; through some system of-an information bureau> established by- the Btefence Department, make arrangernnts for '' collect'' cables to inform parents,of the condition of their sons at the front

Mr. Rhodes said that some time ago he, had .entered into negotiations -with the cable companies, regarding some such 'arrangement;, and ,had offered to guarantee payment for'replies for the satisfaction of the companies. <>■-, Thai day he had authorised a cable to the Secretary of the Commonwealth' ' Post Office asking him to cxpediate mattery -with the Easjprn Extension Co. ,\" '. ' ■*• MrT-'-AtAeN'S STATEMENT."''"

Tkcr Minister for Defence J. Allen)' he had been in'"eon (Sibant, communication on this subject = wi|hrjl}gyj)t and'Malta, and the last message was sent only two days ago. lie had' asked"' Coo'ih*el Charters, the officer commanding jihe. : Nefw Zealand br.se at Alexandria: /; (1) Whether it is nol possible to forward particulars as t( the'nature of wounds when cabling the, casualties; (2) whether; it is not possible to so'vd j:?6g: reports of. me;f* bors of the expeditionary force report-: ed.. dangerously ill, or else to advmj when they were out of'• Sanger.' J(4}. ...ftba had received the fof; lowing reply: (I).Nature of woumls-*-Ths.VVar, Office states that the hospitals have been ordered to eable direct; (2) u'ith regard to. progress reports as to the dangerously ill or when they are out of danger, it is impossible, to,,, .dp more than...wo..are- already doing by sending the following message: "All the sick, and wounded are doing woll following, who are, danger ously ill," the names of the execptio-t■■ being then given. V>=:rjM INFORMATION' BUREAU! '"'"' <Mr.,,Myc£3 (Auckland East):"' Do I understand that jt, ; is,the intention" of the Department to establish a bureau lof information at Alexandria,? During South'. African war, Mr. Pileher, of , the,. Squt.h good.-vprk in-|hjs way for New ZenWould . it..not be advisable for a civilian to be appointed to this position authorities fjkti 'WOfild^aVS : ma i i¥t' ; hours to parents who •a?oi*'.off«tttntly seeking"'rnfor- 1 mation. . ;• :. Mr. Allen: I do not think,- so. It; Vtmra- tMf lead to complications, and would not do any good.