HOSPITAL SHIP FUND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4001, 6 August 1915, Page 6

HOSPITAL SHIP FUND.

To : ’ People of Now Zealand, — 'iho actual amount .subscribed to the Hcfsoual Ship F.uml amounted to £4. * IB 17s, which i desire to say far exceeded my expectations. !,. mv letter to the public press on Mev 2o I enumerated some of the articles which would be required for the eouipmcmt of the ship; and as lar as T Could I estimated the approximate, cost of such equipment. 'this of course included .many items not sp ■cihed hy me, and which 1 believed could only" he acquired hv being purchased . The actual money expended on equipment will be approximately £lO,OUO. Now in many instances articles which it was never thought likely would he forwarded (as they were not specified in the list ol _ suggested goods) were donated, and further, the donors forwarded sums of money as well, with the result that the equipment was carried out at u considerably less cost than could possibly have been anticipated. So many donors in writing lo me said that they were in entire accord that wo should utilise money for the p,,b of the sick and wounded wherever it was required, and therefore .made •i:n•i or contributions with the desire that tlie surplus should he as large as possible, while at the same time intimating that the upkeep of the equipment of the Hospital Ship should he our first care. I quite concur myself with these views, and .1 have thought it desirable to ask certain' gentlemen to assist me with their advice as to the administration of the surplus. They are: Hon. Colonel .). Allen, IVI.J.T, A. Myers. Esq., ALP., Ih igad-icr-Clcnera 1 A. Robin, C. 15-. C.M.G. ; and their Worships the. Mayors of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. Those gentlemen have most kindly agreed to assist me in every wav possible.

I have during the last Jew weeks b.mn in close communication with all ihe centres abroad where our wounded are located and have got-dclinito information that they are receiving every possible attention. 'I his has been further eoin'ivmed by personal letter from the men to inysell. and where men have been scattered arrangements have been made to keep in close touch with them. ] despatched in the Mahenq 32 eases for use in the base hospitals in Egypt, and after communication with roe Governor and •Coirinuiiidor-iu-Chiei in Malta (Field Marshal Lord Methuen) money and newspapers were despatched for the sick and wounded-in that island. I think therefore we can consider that the wants of our men are very well attended to both in Egypt and Malta. At the same time if gifts are despatched to cither of those two bases the articles enumerated in my letter to the newspapers on .July 6, namely:

Medium weight shirts( woollen material)

Vests Drawers Socks Pyjamas Cholera belts Pamd ages would always he acceptable and the Secretary for Internal Affairs would always be prepared to arrange lor their despatch. ’Where, however, I propose to devote my chief attention at the present time is to those sick and wounded at present in England. laird. Plunkct, who is chairman of the Xew Zealand Comm it toe in Great Lritain for assisting our sick and wounded, lias acquired an auxiliary hospital at "Walton on Thames called “Mount Felix” which will accommodate some 110 becks, hut which he assures me can bo extended to carry 300 or -.100 beds, and which needs considerable support. He further adds that this scheme has the full concurrence of the Army Council. Let it he distinctly borne in mind that the' Imperial Government has made arrangements for the care of Now Zealand sick and wounded, hut they cannot necessarily guarantee that they can he located in one hospital, and it is for this reason the New Zealanders at Home have started tin’s institution which is assisted by the Now Zealand Government, the Imperial Government, and private contributions. it is readily understood that it is a great boon to the wounded to he associated with their own comrades.

At a meeting held at Government House, Wellington, on July 29. ] put all those tie a s before the gentlemen, wild I have said .have been kind enough to advise me, and .1 propose villi their full concurrence to devote our energies to assisting Lord Plunket. and Ins Committee in furthering their aims, as hv doing so 1 ft ol convinced \vo shall materially assist me comfort of our sick and wounded.

Wo have also agreed to place all moneys on deposit, making arrangements for withdrawal when necessary, hut at the same time not to allow the balance in the hank to fall below a certain guru so that it will be availaide for replenishing anything required for tlie Malieno. By this arrangement I am convinced that we shall he able to put the generous donations of the New Zealand people to their fullest use. In conclusion. 1 should like to take this opportunity as the head of the Order of St. John in New Zealand, of thanking the several shipping companies who trade direct with the United Kingdom from New Zealand for having so generously carried various hospital requirements free since the commencement of the war. Owing to the fact, however, that we have now a largo number of sick and wounded located in Egypt and the Mediterranean, the P. and O. and Orient Steamship Companies have been approached and have also kindly consented to allocate certain space for the same purpose. In order to allow us to take advantage of this offer, the Union and Htid-dart-Parker Steamship Companies have kindly agreed to carry the goods free to Australia. All application for space should he made direct to the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, Wellington, who will ascertain when and how the goods can bo despatched. LIVERPOOL, Governor.