New Zealand

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 24 February 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

BELGIAN RELIEF FUND. STATE CONTRIBUTIONS URGED. Aucklnd, February 23. The Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr) wired to Mr Massey as follows:—"There is strong public opinion here that the Government should provide a monthly contribution of say £15.000 to Belgium. Auckland iias contributed nearly £50,000 ill cash and ,025,000 in clothing already." Mr Panalso stated that action was now necessary to cope adequately and systematically with the magnitude of Belgium's distress. Timarir, February 23. Mr Craigie, M.P., in a message.! to Mr Massev. urges that the Belgian relief be dealt with on a national basis and l>v special taxation to cover New Zealand's contribution, and asks that action lie taken at once. The local committee meets to-morrow to take steps to help. The Mayor of Tituaru also sent a message ou similar lines to Mr Craigie's asking what the Government intend to do. Dnnedin, February 23. At Dnnedin to-day a deputation of citizens waited on the Mayor regarding tile appeal on behalf of the Belgians. It was unanimously resolved to recommend the Government to vote £25,000 monthly for this purpose during the continuance of the war. and to communicate with other councils, urging them to take a similar action.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. Wellington, February 23. In regard to the appeal cabled yesterday on behalf of the starving Belgians, the Prime Minister states that he has luul no official communication on, the sub- j jeet. He had asked the Governor to cable to tlie Imperial authorities as to how it i 9 proposed to distribute food or money contributed. In the meantime, if the. people of the. Dominion choose to send contributions of food or money to the Government as an answer to the appeal they would be taken charge of in tlie ordinary way and forwarded in due course without interfering with the efforts of the Belgian Consuls in the different centres. HUTS SUPERSEDE TENTS. Wellington, February 23. Tf the s-eheme proposed by the Minister of Defence was fully carried out the tenlfi ; r tlie camp at Trentham would be superseded by huts, semi-permanent habitations constructed of wood and corlugated iron, for the use of members of the expeditionary force and any military forces that may come after them. The Minister informed a Post reporter that on his recommendation Cabinet had agreed to the erection of one lmt for tlie officers and another for the men, to contain one hundred men, as a sample before tenders were called for the erection of the whole design. "We are going to put them up," he said, "as quickly as we can, so as to see if any improvements should be made before the contract is let for a larger number. It i.: difficult for tlie department to keen up the supply of tents. If carried'ou t lit its entirety the cost of tlie new S £ic«lm Wlll be bctwcen £14,000 and £-15,000. SAMOAN HOSPITAL LIST. r> i , t WelI ' n Kt°n. Fbruary 23. Colonel Logan, commanding in Samoa, advises the Defence Department as fol°ws regarding tlie health of the troops:—

Wellington Regiment,—Privates W Wiron, pneumonia; S. G. Crout, dengue revei and septic bursitis of the left elbow; Lance-Corporal S. G. Murrell dengue fever; Privates C. A. McCombie' septic ankle: F. S.P. S. Rogers dvsenl' ry Stul,bs > rheumatism; T.' Vivian tonsilities. '

Auckland Regiment.—Privates P. K Bell dysentery; G. Griffiths, tonsilitis;' T. Hartley, dysentery; H. C.' Leckren general debility; E. Wells, septic knee;' J. K Peck, enteric fever; R. J Massicks, dengue fever. Railway Engineers.—Sapper J. B. Elliott, dysentery; Field Engineers R. C Johnson, slight dysentery; R H Rose electric burns on feet anil back. ' ' Machine Gun Section.—Private E E Rivers, dysentery. Affmy Service Corps.—Private R. D. iMgar, septic knee; Signaller 0 \V Pearce, dengue fever. All are doing