CONDITIONS AT HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23661, 11 June 1942, Page 4

CONDITIONS AT HOSPITAL

SOLDIERS INVALIDED HOME NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT URGED

“It seems that life there is an absolute misery—no sport, no ordinary facilities, and no recreation, except a staff dance which is held once a week, said Mr G. Wright when discussing conditions at the Hanmer Springs military hospital at a meeting last, evening of the Christchurch Territorial Association. Mr Wright said a relative of his had been sent to the hospital for six weeks, and after a month had made special application for permission to return—and that was typical of the general feeling. Some women connected with the church were with strictly limited facilities doing a useful work—but everything was against them. For instance, when they made supper for the patients the necessary sugar and tea had to be provided from their own rationed supplies. Another justifiable source of grievance was the lack of a canteen, which meant, Mr Wright said, that soldiers who were in hospital—on reduced military pay—could not buy their cigarettes and tobacco at reduced rates—a privilege to which ordinary soldiers were entitled. “It is up to this association to do'something to relieve the conditions of the soldiers, • especially during the winter months,” Mr Wright said. “An Absolute Disgrace” “It really is an absolute disgrace,” Mr G. Hamilton said in supporting Mr Wright. “I would like to know in what proportion returned men are going to Hanmer Springs and to the Rotorua hospital. I’ll guarantee the hospital at Hanmer Springs has to provide for all of the South Island, and I’ll also guarantee it doesn’t get onefifth of the money that is made available to Rotorua. It’s a great shame if we can’t do more for these men, many of whom have recently returned from service overseas,” Mr Hamilton concluded. . It was decided unanimously that the association should make representations to the Army and the National Patriotic Council for representatives to be sent to view the situation at the hospital. “If representatives go up there, it will be enough—it will be a real eye-opener to them,” Mr Hamilton said.