WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 135, 4 March 1941, Page 6

WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Cost Of Treatment In Hospital

Dominion Special Service

AUCKLAND, March 3.

Several local bodies had suggested that the Government should be asked to make the costs of the hospital treatment of returned soldiers wounded in the present war a charge on the National War Expenses Account, said the president of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, Mr. T. -Jordan, in his report to the annual conference of the association today.

The Minister replied on July 17, 1940, advising that additional pay. meats over and above the payments from the Social Security Fund would be made to hospital boards concerned. The basis of this contribution was that where capital expenditure was involved in providing additional accommodation, the expense was being undertaken, out of the War Expenses Account. The Minister stated that new buildings were > being erected in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with the understanding with the hospital boards concerned that if the accommodation was eventually required and used foi the treatment of civilian patients, the boards concerned would reimburse the War Expenses Account at a valuation then to be agreed upon. - The Minister also said that with regard to special equipment required for treatment of sick and wounded soldiers, the Govern, ment was similarly in the’ first place bearing the cost. In November, the New Zealand Counties Association discussed with the members of the emergency committee the question of after-care of discharged soldiers. As the result of this meeting a joint letter was forwarded to the Minister of Health, urging him to make the difference between the actual cost of after-care of soldiers and nurses and the social security allowance for such patients a charge upon the War Expenses Account. The Minister’s reply had not yet been received.