§ 54. Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made in the New Zealand Parliament by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, on 7th July, 1915, that when the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was dispatched the British War Office undertook to provide relieving and stationary hospitals and a base hospital; that he, the Minister, being disturbed by a Report received from the Dardanelles as to the medical arrangements, cabled twice to the Army Council offering hospital accommodation and equipment but received no reply; that subsequently the Governor cabled to Lord Kitchener asking that New Zealand should be allowed to provide her own hospitals; and that, after a delay of sixteen days, a reply was received accepting the offer; whether he is aware that the New Zealand Cabinet on the following day took steps to dispatch hospital equipment; will he say who is responsible for the delay in replying to the offer of the New Zealand Government; and whether the person or persons responsible will be dismissed for their neglect in this matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not seen the statement referred to. I find that the cable from the Minister of Defence, dated 10th March, was not replied to until the 26th March, when the personnel of the stationary hospital offered was accepted. It was necessary in the interval to consult the military authorities in Egypt before any proposals for bringing additional personnel were definitely confirmed. In the circumstances, I do not think the time occupied in these consultations could have been much reduced.