THE T.B. HUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16, 20 January 1926, Page 9

THE T.B. HUTS.

•— ■ ■ PROTEST AGAINST REMOVAL DEPUTATION TO MAYOR. TO BE PLACED BEFORE LVi'-^IL. I The action of the Auckland City ' Council in deciding to remove the soldier I T.B. huts from the Domain to Epsom has aroused considerable controversy in j the city-, and has caused the Soldiers I Mothers' League to actively mov e in ! protest against this scheme. | A deputation representing the league ; waited on the Mayor. Mr. G. Baildon. , I this morning. Mrs. Emily Xicol. speaking on behalf of the deputation, stated thai the j league had moved to have the shelters - placed in the Domain for the men who j were paying the penalty for defending ! their country. Since the men had been ' in those huts there had never been a I complaint, and it was felt that they had good reason in asking that the men be i allowed to remain where they were. She i pointed out that the surroundings were ! more beautiful than conld be obtained at Epsom, and it would be a terrible loss to the men if they were sent out , there. Mrs. Nicol was emphatic on the j point that the people who complained of ! tile risk of contagion had not had a son j at the war. or had never visited the j huts. Another matter she stressed was j that the food for the patient; needed; careful attention. The Red Cross could | not send, or be expected to send, a ] nurse to Epsom, and the change in food j which would undoubtedly come about ' would no: lie in the interests of trie ! soldier patients. They appealed to Mr. ! Baildon. not as the Mayor, but as a j man. and would ask him if he would like : his own Sim to be sent away from a ] place that provided him with all the j comforts necessary dusing the last days j of his life to another place that would ' take away the delightful surroundings j and corn-forts that were to be obtained ' in the present location. Messrs. J. B. Perry and J. H. Mitchell, two of the patients in the huts, \ spoke in support of their remaining in ! the Domain. It was pointed out that j there were 14 patients in the huts, and that each man had a cubicle to himself. If they were sent to Epsom it would mean that three or more would be placed ; in one room, and for T.B. cases this j was not right, and the men wished to ' protest against such a procedure. That | part of the Domain taken up by their ? huts was not used as a sport? ground, i and the surroundings were such that ' they would never be equalled at Epsom. The Mayor said that, apart from the fact that the men were there, other j aspects had to be considered. As far as j the health point of view was concerned, J he was not competent to express an ' opinion. He drew attention to the re- . moval of the old annexe and pointed out j that the pipes leading to the huts had j to be -supported- on trestles above the ground and were most unsightly. It | the annexe had not been used, as a hos- j pital, the huts would not have been i situated in the Domain. He would I place the matter before the council and I steps would be taken to clear up the matter. 'While making no promises, ac would assure the deputation that the men would be given every consideration.