li. -19b

6

Malta: All Saints' Eospital: St. David's Hospital; St. Paul's Hospital; All Saints' Convalescent Camp; St. George's Hospital; St. Ignatius's Hospital (formerly St. Julian's); Hamrun Hospital for officers; Imtarfa Hospital; St. Patrick's Hospital; St. Andrew's Eospital; St. Andrew's Hospital for officers; Gottonera Hospital: Ricasoli Eospital; Floriana Hospital; Baviere Hospital; Verdala Convalescent Home for Officers; Blue Sisters' Hospital; Valletta Eospital; St. Elimo Eospital; Manoel (Fort) Hospital; Q-hain Tuffieha Convalescent Camp-; Dragonara Convalescent Home for Officers; Tigne Hospital; Spinola Hospital; Fbrrest Hospital: St. John's Hospital; Convalescent Camp on the Island of 6020. (4.) "The receiving through the Government of gift goods and stores for soldiers; the treatment of lln goods mi arrival, and their distribution." On arriving in Egypt 1 found that we had a store on a wharf at Alexandria whore goods were received, sorted, and repacked, this being- necessary as most of the cases contained gifts addressed to men in nearly every unit in the Force. 1 have alread) advised yon thai if the donors do not desire to send gifts in bulk for general distribution to our troops, the gifts should be addressed, if possible, to regiments or to units no smaller than a company or a squadron. In all rases gifts addressed to individuals should be sent by post. As (lie Imperial authorities required the store on the wharf a gilt-store was established in Cairo, a very suitable building being allotted to us for the purpose. On, being appointed to the command of the base, Colonel Esson, C.M.G., reorganized the system of gifts-distribution, and appointed Chaplain Greene to lake charge of all gift goods. As a precautionary measure it was decided to send gifts to the front only when there was an opportunity of placing them in charge of one of our own officers, and Chaplain Greene made a special trip to Almlros with eight hundred eases of Christmas gill goods. In order to save time in resulting gifts on their arrival at the base I recommended to you the establishment of a central depot in Wellington where gifts could be properly packed 111 cases ol* a suitable size and weight. I was pleased to note that you had published the information I sent you about the packing of gift goods, and also my cablegram of the 9th December giving (he size of eases suitable fur (he conditions at Gallipoli-; what would be suitable for France, I, of course, have no knowledge. After his appointment as officer in charge of gifts, Chaplain Greene met every ship at Suez, and superintended the unloading of !;ii'i goods and their subsequent distribution to the men in their stations at the canal. I took it upon myself to have eatables, such as cakes, and other perishable goods arriving in Egypt for men who were known to be in hospital in England forwarded to their comrades at the front. It has since been proved that this was the right, course to lake, as many of these- goods would, I learned, not have stood the journey to England, and would tints have been wasted. 1 had previously given similar instructions with regard to the disposal of perishable goods addressed to dead and missing men. (0.) ''Funds sent through Government channels for the comfort of the sick and lln wounded, including the receiving, distribution, and regular accounting for the same." 1 found that these funds were administered by the Commandant at Headquarters (Egypt 1 of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the Staff Paymaster, in conjunction with a committee consisting of the Deputy Director of Medical Services, N.Z.E.F., the senior .Mounted and the senior Dismounted Regimental Officer on the station, Chaplain Greene, and the Matrons of the New Zealand convalescent homes. Chaplains Greene, McDonald, Tobin, Thornton, Garner, and Uurridge all acted as distributing agents. They were supplied with cash by the honorary treasured?, Io whom receipted invoices were handed and by whom proper accounts were kept. All receipts and disbursements in connection with these funds are embodied in (he Imprest Account of the Staff Paymaster to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. This account is subject to the usual examination in the Treasury and the Audit in New Zealand, to which receipted vouchers for all expenditure are submitted til short intervals, together with a certificate by the manager of the bank with whom the Force does business giving the credit balance. The account is subject to the scrutiny and examination required by the Public Revenues Act and Treasury Regulations. On being received at Defence Headquarters in the Dominion all vouchers for expenditure out of the funds are referred To the Department of internal Affairs for approval. This money was expended in purchasing fruit, special articles of clothing', and the comforts mentioned under paragraph (3); indeed, anything considered necessary by the hospital staff or visiting Chaplains was almost invariably authorized by the committees. The cheajjest and best method of remitting money for the benefit of our sick and wounded is through the Defence Department, Wellington. (6.) "The. funds and gift goods sent through other sources than the Government." In all cases where funds and gift goods are handed to the General Fund and Gifts Section by individuals with the request that- they be devoted to a specific object every endeavour is made to give effect to the wishes of the donors. Funds and goods arc frequently sent to hospitals and convalescent homes, and are, I tun sure, made good use of by the recipients, (lifts sent for the benefit of individuals are either delivered to them personally or are disposed of on their order, but in this connection I would refer you to my remarks on paragraph (4).