NO GUARANTEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 234, 2 October 1940, Page 8

NO GUARANTEE.

MILITARY HOSPITALS.

SCHOOLS MAY BE TAKEN.

No guarantee can be given by the Government that Training Colleges, schools, halls or other buildings will not be requisitioned for use as soldiers' hospitals in the event of the outbreak of epidemics in military camps, according to a letter received from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, at to-day'e meeting of the Auckland Education Board. Mr. W. J. Campbell presided.

The letter was received in enewer to representations made by the board strongly protesting against the taking over of the Auckland Training College and a new school building at Hamilton West, and asking that such an action would not be taken in the future.

In his letter the Prime Minister stated that he would take up the question of the utilisation of school buildings for hospital purposes with the Minister of Health end the Minister of Education and the officers of the respective Departments.

"The whole question of finding hospital accommodation for the men of our Expeditionary Force when an epidemic breaks out is a very difficult one," the Prime Minister stated, "and should be grappled with immediately, or a grave danger to the whole of the community will be instituted. In much circumstances we must be guided by the Department of Health, and the difficulties, inconveniences and even hardships sustained by the pupils and teachers of the schools and by the staff and students of the Training Colleges must be endured unless there is suitable alternative accommodation. I agree that if such accommodation is available, the schools and Training Colleges should not be used. I understand, however, that in regard to both the Auckland Training College and the Hamilton West School there was no such alternative accommodation offering." The letter added that the question would be taken up, as previously indicated but, in view of the circumstances, particularly the gathering together of men from all over the Dominion in military camps, thus making the risk of the spread of infectious diseases a very grave one, he could not possibly give an assurance that Training Colleges or schools, halle or other buildings would not be utilised or even requisitioned if and when necessity arose. The letter was received.