SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 31, 5 February 1916, Page 9

SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL.

WHERE RESPONSIBILITY LIES.

DEFENCE MINISTER INQUIRES

A large number of complaints received recently by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. James Allen, from returned soldiers indicate that the system of communication between the Defence Department, and the Department for Public Health is not working entirely- satisfactorily. Mr. Allen stated this morning that he intended to make a personal investigation of the matter, with a view to locating the flaw in administration which had led to so much trouble.

In his original memorandum he had advised that when a soldier arrived by the transport the Defence Department was responsible for his transport to the hospital. When a man reached the hospital the Defence Department was to notify the Health Department. When the man was discharged from the hospital it was the duty of the Health Department to notify the Defence Department. It appeared that this had not been done systematically. Tho result was that it occurred occasionally that w-hen a man was discharged from hospital his subsequent pay warrants were compiled at the rate of 1/ a day (hospital pay), and so the complaint*- arose. This morning Mr. Allen paid a visit of inspection to the annex of the Auckland Public Hospital, and made complete inquiries as to the system of admission and discharge of soldiers. The Minister states that he does not anticipate that there will be any difficulty in ensuring satisfactory departmental communication, and so dovetailing the two systems as to obviate tho possibility of further hitch in arrangements. i

CLUB AND ASSOCIATION. SEPARATE ORGANISATION"*--. THE MAYOR EXPLAINS. A possible misconception regarding returned soldiers' grievances was cleared up by the Mayor in the course of a statement this morning. "VFith regard to the deputation from the Returned Soldiers' Association which waited on the Minister for Defence yesterday." said Mr. Gunson. "I am glad that such an association ha 3 been formed, and I shall always be glad to give it every assistance possible. There are maEy matters affecting returned men to which they themselves can attend far better than any odtside organisation. At the same time, in view of certain misconceptions, it should be made clear that the Soldiers' Club is under an entirely separate administration, constituted and controlled by the Auskland Patriotic League. The clab was founded for the comfort and convenience of our soldiers, and it has fulfilled its purpose so well that the present premises are now quite inadequate for the accommodation of the men. In fact, it will be" necessary to consider the acquiring of a property and the erection of a pert-aanent club. This matter' will be gone into by the executive on Wednesday next.

'•What I particularly wish to mention." continued Mr. Gunson, "is the reported statement that the Soldiers' Club is 'seething with discontent.' This statement, if made, has been wrongly construed. I am in a position to say that there is no discontent among the men with regard to the management of the club, which has their cordial approval and appreciation. The reference, apparently, is to the grievances laid before Mr " Allen, and if applied to the club management it is certainly incorrect. The men may rest assured that no stone will be left unturned to provide them with every reasonable and necessary comfort for their social life. Their own association is quite distinct from the club, and of course must maintain its separate existence."