SICK SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 107, 1 November 1940, Page 4

SICK SOLDIERS

HOSPITAL NEEDS

RACECOURSE BUILDINGS

TENANCY QUESTION

It was reported by the chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, Mr. F. Castle, last night that he and the Superintendent had been instructed to discuss with the Director-General of Health and the Wellington Racing Club authorities the question of the security of tenancy of the racecourse buildings for the duration of the war. He thought, also, that investigation of some other,:: suitable accommodation should be made.

Expressing thanks to the Racing Qlub for what it had already done, /Mr. Castle said it was desirable that .there should be some understanding./ with the club or with the military authorities so that there would be less.-uncer-tainty with regard to the buildings that were to be used for treatment of soldier patients. The board /had not had the opportunity of meeting the Racing Club, the assistance- of which had been valuable. The board would do all it could to avoid, having so many patients in the club's buildings as to prevent the holding of race meetings. A move had been "made to secure a conference between a committee of the board and the Racing Club authorities.

"While we have received every consideration possible from the racing authorities," said Mr. A. W. Croskery, '■'we have not received the same consideration from the Health Department. It is all very well to lay down a hard and fast rule for the evacuation of these patients, but I do not think it can be done. Dr. Thorne has explained that a number of new soldiers have gone into camp, and that the period of incubation in some diseases is considerable. The Racing Club has been more than fair, exceedingly fair, yet we are met by the Health Department with the alternative of supplying accommodation for all soldiers. It should not go out that the Department has been of any assistance to us, because it has not. They have demanded that we should leave the grounds. If some serious epidemic presented itself how could you evacuate 150 soldiers? It seems to me that the Racing Club has given much more consideration to the men who are fighting for us than has the Director-General of Health."

"Are we going to take the responsibility of looking after these men, or are we just going to shilly-shally until the Department does something?" asked Mr. J. C. Crawford. "The Government has instructed us to make provision for soldiers, and we. have leaned on the Racing Club. The Government requires revenue from the club, and would be very reluctant to see the course taken over by the board. We must settle this matter between ourselves and the Government, and not between us and the club."

"In exercising the powers .taken by the Government the Director-Geenral of Health can direct the board to evacuate any number of soldiers he thinks necessary in the interests of the public health," said the chairman. "There should be some settlement before the next races, which are not so many months ahead."