THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15608, 5 June 1916, Page 2

THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.

OPENED AT HANMEK SPRINGS. SATURDAY'S CEREMONY. The opening ceremony of the new hospital for sick and "wounded soldiers at Hanmer Springs was performed by the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs and Public Health, on Saturday, in fine weather, and in the presence of a number of visitors and residents of the district. Among those who went up br the special train from Christcliurch were: — Tho Hou. G. W. Russell, the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, Surgeon-General Henderson, Hon. Colonel Collins, Hon. J. Barr, Hon. D. Bnddo, Hon. A. T. Maginnity Colonel • V aliniine, Colonel Chafl'ey, Colonel Cresswell. Colonel Anderson, 1M1.0., Major Chesson, members of tho local Defence Headquarters' Stair, tho Mayors of Christcliurch. Invercargill, Asliburton, Lyiteiton, Wools l on, "Waikouaiti, Kaitangata, Riccuirton, Messrs G. AV. Forbes, C. J. Talbot, M.P., J. Austoy, AI.P., E. Newman, M.P., Dr. Thacker, M.P., Messrs "\V. H. M. L. Reading, L. Birks. G. Harper, and many others, including a large number of ladies, and. some returned soldiers. THE OPENING CEREMONY. The special train arrived at Culverden at 1.10 p.m., and the party at once motored on to Hanmer Springs in forty-three cars, arriving there at -.15 p.m. Mr J. Dodds, of Hanmer Springs, welcomed the visitors, .aid prescn lcil tho Hon. G. W. iius.seii witii a silver key. Mr Russell thanked Mr Dcdds for his gift, and also especially thanked -Hi' arid Mis D. Rutherford and the pcoj ie of tho district lor the splendid wo.k taey had done for the wounded and sick soldiers. It was f:"lt, however, that a larger institution was necui-jary to ai-commodate the expected rush at the end of the war, therefore this tine institution had been built. It would last for many years as an expression of the sympathy of tho people of New Zealand for our soldiers. When it was no longer needed for military purposes it would bo linked up with the public hospital system for tho pntionts from the civil hospitals of the South Island. The speaker thanked Messrs Fair and liirks. the engineers, for the good work they had done. Mr Russell Eaid ho held permission to call t!ie hospital tho Queen Mary Hospital. The two wards would be called Kitchener nnd Joffre Wards, and the dining-hall had been named after Nurse Cavell nnd would be known as the Nurse Cavell Ward. (Applause).

Tbo Minister, amid applause and cheers, then declared the hospit'il open for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers of New Zealand, and handed charge of the nlace over to Onion el Loach and Surgeon-Captain H'-ntl ry. Colonel Lonch thanked the Minister for his words. The hospital compared more than favourably with the hospitals he had seen at Home. He then presented >M-r Russell with a handsome ;nnt made by the soldiers at Hanmor Springs. Surgeon-Cantain Hendry also snoke, and Mr Russell returned thanks very feelingly for the present of the nia L , which he said lie would treasure very highly. . Mr Russell then unveiled a memorial tablet, and after the sinking of the National Anthem the public entered and inspected the building. • • the • luncheon: ti Luncheon was then served in the dining hall, and after the usual loyal toasts had been honoured and the National Anthem sung, his "Worship the Mayor of Christchurch proposed the toast of "The Navy and Army," which was drunk with musical honours. Colonel Chaff ey, who responded, said he felt sure the Army did not need any thanks. Soldiers liked to do their job quietly, and he felt sure that the British Army would do so. He thanked the Government, on behalf of the soldiers, for the excellent way in which the returned sick and wounded men wero looked after. Mr Goo. Harper said the Navy, like the/Army, did not need any thanks, and would do its duty. In spite of reverses it would yet come out on top. Mr G. Forbes, M.P., who proposed ■the toast "The Sick and Wounded ) Soldiers," said that the hospital was in his constituency, and the men who were I inmates of it could rest assured that at all times he would do his best to see that they received the treatment they deserved. The building they were in that day was an earnest of the wish of the Government to make the lot of the returned soldiers as good a,s possible. General Henderson said that the barbarous actions of the enemy, had had the effect of arousing many fine qualities in our peace-loving nation, and none was finer than the sympathy which had been expressed by the people for the men who had fought and bled at the front. When they saw the fine men w-ho went down to the transports to right the wrong, they would agree that no amount of sympathy was too much to accord to those men when they came back maimed or sick. Ho congratulated New Zealand on the high standard of medical efficiency which obtained in the country. The doctors, nurses and hospitals wero all efficient and up-to-date, and tho fire hospital which had been opened that day was a good example of what a -hospital should bo. The speaker highly praised the serum manufactured in New Zealand for inoculating the troops. It compared more than favourably .with that made in the Old Country, and statistics had proved that .owing to its quality and the mcdic-al care given to the New Zealand troops in Egypt, their health had been a good deal better than that of other units. He was certain that the people of New Zealand could have complete confidcnce in their Public Health Department. Dr. Valintine, in a humorous speech, demonstrated that the ways of the Health Department were * many and various. The British sense \>f humour had got our men through very tight places, and he hoped that the "gallant men who used this institution "would take the rough with the smooth, and put up with any initial discomforts. The general behaviour of the New Zealand troops had been excellent all through, and thev had failed to grumble nyhen they had good cause to do so. They had now model camps, and the Health Department had given its officials carte blanche in treating the men, never haggling over anything, 60 if in future the treatment was not all it should be, they would know it was tho fault of tho officers, and not the Department. Mr Sorensen proposed the toast of "Parliament," and said the country might well be proud of the way in which the National Government had grappled with the grave problems before it. The toast was responded to by the Hon. Colonel Collins,JMX.C., who said it was impossible to do too much for the men who had fought *0 well for their King and country. They Jiad shown a high level of self-respect, and the legislators were determined to seo that the men were properly treated until they were able to fend 'for themselves The Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., and the Hon. D.. Buddo, M.P., both endorsed the previous speaker's remarks. Mr F. Horrell proposed the toast of "The National Government." He eulo- ; gised the manner in which the leading politicians of New Zealand had sunk .

their political differences, and 'worked together with considerable success for the benefit of the country as ft whole. The Hon. G. W. Russell, after apologising for the absenoe of his colleagues, thanked the South Canterbury and Southland Patriotic Committees for their magnificent donations towards the Hospital. He also thanked the Public Service, "Wanganui, and other places, for gifts to the Queen Mary Hospital. He explained that the large size of the two new Government hospitals was due to a desire that they should be ready for the post-war rush of -wounded. They could deal with 400 soldiers at Hanmer and 500 at Rotorua, and with other places, the Department could deal with 2000 sick and wounded soldiers, without upsetting any other arrangements. The 6peaker explained that use could be made of the hospitals when they were no longer needed for military uses, and why they had been built on the openair Cambridge T»lan. The National Government sincerely desired to help all returned soldiers to the uttermost. Mr Russell concluded bv thanking Dr. Valintine and all the officers of the Department for the loyal support they had given him. The toast- list concluded with the toasts of "The Ladies," proposed by the Minister and responded to bv Mr C. J. Talbot, IT.P., and that of '"The Press," proposed by Mr G. H. Mason, and responded to by the editors of "Tho Press" and "Lyttoltorf Times."