SICK SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15498, 27 January 1916, Page 3

SICK SOLDIERS.

LETTER FROM THE MINISTER. The following letter has been received by the C.D.C. from the Minister of Public Health:— Department of Public Health. Minster's Office, Sir, —I have the honour' to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Loth iust. dealing with the cases of certain soldiers -whom you desire to s<»nd to country districts during convalescence : also asking that these men should be granted free posses sn the railways. The lion, the Minister of Defence has replied to that portion of your letter dealing with the fre« passes. The other portion is more difficult to answer. I am aware that a large number of p-itriotic farmers and others have asked the piivilege of being allowed to entertain. convalescent soldiers on their return. This, however, iu niy opinion, is most undesirable, for the following reason.: — Men who are in the convalescent stage require frequent medical attention, .-Pacini nursing,, and special care For the purpose of providing these requirements, the Government has established a large convalescent camp at Kotorua, -uhere men are under ideal conditions. and where they will also be under military discipline. A complete medical staff i s available, and the men have all the benefits of the thermal uprings treatment, together with all modern scientific requirements for restoring them to health at the Government baths at Jiotorua. It seem-; to me, therefore, impossible that the men could be as well looked :.!'ter and treated in private homes as they wii[ be at the King George V. Hospital at Jiotorua. . j I may say that a similar establishment .to accommodate 31 eft less than 400 men. is about to be erected., at Hantrcr (Springs, and will be fuliy furnished and (quipped for the benefit of the men. In ttio meantime there is nmple accommodation at the "Lodge," through the hospitality and patriotism of Mr Duncan Rutherford and the residents of .Amuri. I ;>n sume that the men to whom you refer are undischarged soldiers. The obiect of the convalescent camo.'s to do j.wav with the great evil to wnich you refer —r»amely, that the men have noth.:-g to do all day, and consequently grow discontented. I also agree that the fact of allowing the men to loaf about the city is c'oing ivci niting harm. Under these . circumstances, and in view of the farts contained in this Jotter, I would respectfully ask the Citizens' Defence ,Corps . executive to carefully consider the question as to ■".'bether it i« not desirable that the mcdie.il officers should, until Hanmer is completely equipped, forward' ail convalescent cases to l'otorua. where tbey coir be accommodated in. the meantime. Perhaps you would also me, detailed statements with regard to the men you have in your view, and f will then instruct the Public Health Officer in Christchurch to examine individual cases and send a direct report to me. I wish lo assure you that it is my sincere desire to assist the men in every way possible, and the .whole organisation of the Public Health Department is with that view. I am prepared to give the utmost consideration t;> all facts which your Executive can place before me, which may help nio to cl.ange the views which I now hold. Throughout the time the Department has been under iny administration, I have been strongly oppose.! to convalescent soldiers being 'pi need anywhere but in Government institutions, under the direct and immediate, control of the military nnthorities for disci pi ir.e, and of the Public HeoH.li Department for. restoration to health. Only by this means can complete discipline, be maintained, and I am very much surprised that there are a' num•ot' eon valcsc-nt soldiers, who I presume are stiiLundischarged,.residing in Christchurch, apparently without control. (Signed) G. W. RUS&KLL. To Mr J. M. Turnbull. Secretary C.D.C., Ciuistchurch. | =============== " I