THE HOSPITAL SHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 306, 4 June 1915, Page 3

THE HOSPITAL SHIP.

;j MISUNDERSTANDINGS REMOVED. !

i """"STATEMENT BY DEFENCE ! i , | MINISTER. J 1 ' By Telegraph.—Press Association. 'Wellington, Last Night. I "Tt seems to me tliat there is a tonsidcrable misunderstanding in the minds of the public with regard to the position of the Government rejecting the hospital ship," said the Minister for Defence this evening. " I want to make it quite clear that the Government can fit out tlie ship, complete in every detail, at the cost of the State, and would he prepared to do so, if necessary, hut his Excellency the Governor wanted, to have a personal interest, in some humane work connected with the war, and he knew that there were a groat ;many people, in New Zealand who felt as he did and would like to share with him the burden and tlie responsibility of equipping tlie hospital ship. He started the, national movement for equipping the Malierio for service near our troops. The Government is paving for the preparation of the ship and for the necessary furnishings, but the Government does not want to stop people from giving towards the cost of tho equipment i if they feel disposed to respond to the appeal that the Governor lias made. Nobody who does not care to support this movement need have the slightest compunction about withholding their money and giving it instead to some other fund that attracts them more than the Hospital Ship Fund docs. The Government has not asked for money for the equipment of the ship. Tlie Governor lias done so, and I feel sure tlmt a great many people are very glad indeed that he gave them the opportunity to assist the troopa in this practical way." Tlie Minister for Defence mentioned that the Government was not working in the <lark with regard to the hospital ship. Tlie plans of the Australasian hospital ship had been brought to New Zealand by jfche Maheno, and the authorities had secured expert medical adj vice with regard to the work that had I to J>c. done aboard the ship before she I would be ready for her new duties.

FINE WORDS BY THE GOVERNOR. SHIP TO' BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED. | Wellington, -Last Night. In his speeceh at the official opening of the citizens' carnival, in aid of funds for wounded soldiers and sailors, His Excellency the Governor said: —"There are two ways of doing what is right. They are by the State alone and by the State aided by well-wishers who want to give expression to their esprit de corps. 1 believe that phrase, 'esprit de corps,' has to all of us a very great significance, especially under the circumstances in which we are now placed. I, for one, should bo very sorry; to sec individual effort stifled, and everything done on hard ana j fast lines. This committee inas appealed! to the citizens of Wellington to do something for the patriotic fund because it thought that every citizen of Wellington would like to have a personal interest in tho show and to do something for the object for whicu the carnival was promoted. When I made the appeal to the people of New Zealand a fortnight ago these were the sentiments that actuated me. I was well aware that )t did not depend on any party in the State whether or not tile wounded were cared for. I knew they would be cared for in any case, but the expressions ol feeling that have reached me by letter and telegram have assured me that my appeal has touched a very large number of people in the Dominion, who wanted the opportunity to give .personal expression to their feelings. There are hard times in front of us, and it is well to ue prepared. We all want to do a little more than anybody else is doing. Let us try to avoid criticism. This is no time to force the haiids of those who are very hard worked. I am referring particularly to our hospital ship, which is shortly to leave for the front. 'Be to our virtues ever kind, and to our faults a little blind,' and byi doing so you will help the cause you have at heart. I have undertaken it because I am personally interested, personally anxious to help, and T intend to sec that the ship lcavcq New Zealand as well equipped as it is possible to make her." (Applause.)