TOBACCO ISSUE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 101, 30 April 1937, Page 10

TOBACCO ISSUE

SANATORIUM PATIENTS

. After discussion last night the "Wellington Hospital Board, on a recommendation from the house committee, decided to authorise and pay for the issue of tobacco by the superintendent of the Pukcora Sanatorium to the Wel]ington patients in1 the sanatorium. At the same time the board intends suggesting that efforts be made to induce other boards with patients in the sanatorium to'do likewise.

Mr. A. W. Croskery said he did not think the cost involved would exceed £1 a week. In his opinion it was reasonable to give' the patients some of the pleasures they had lost through being confined to the sanatorium.

Mr.," G. Berry said he assumed the superintendent could i-efuse to,, issue the tobacco to the Wellington patients ii it was found to be causing unrest among the other patients.

The chairman (Mr. J. Glover): I suppose he can do anything in that direction.

Dr. D. M. Wilson said he thought it would be better if arrangements could be made for the sanatorium to issue tobacco to all patients.

Mr. F. Castle said he thought that if the Wellington board provided tobacco 'for the Wellington patients at the sanatorium that would result in differential treatment. His view was that the board should recommend that tobacco should be made a regular issue. He. suggested that the board should point out. that, while it was prepared to pay the cost of tobacco for Wellington patients it considered that a genefar issue should be made and included in the general cost of maintenance. Mr., Croskery said he agreed with the suggestion made by Dr. Wilson. Some of the men at the sanatorium had been there twelve and eighteen months, and had no money. H they were in Ewart Hospital they would be receiving tobacco.