RETURNING WOUNDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16010, 31 August 1915, Page 4

RETURNING WOUNDED.

PLANS OF GOVERNMENT. DISTRIBUTING THE CASES. TWO MAIN" CONVALESCENT HOMES.

ROTORI'A AND HAXMER. "I ill" arrant nts made by the Public. Health Department for the car" and treatment of returning si. k and wounded soldiers, were expi lined yesterday by the lion. <;. \V. Russell, Minister for Public Health, in an address to the members .if the Auckland Hospital Board. The Minister, who met the fuli l>oard at its office in High Street, was accompanied by Dr. T. H. A. Yalintme, D-iector ot .Military Hospitals.

At the outset the Minister said he had information which led to the expectation that the demands upon New Zealand hospitals in connection with returning :;:- valid-.d men would not be nearly so large as had been contemplated. Cablegrams placed in his hands on tiie previous day .--bowed that 0:1 the Tahiti, out of a total of 489 cases, only 27 wore hospital cases, and 57 convalescent cases, the remainder being described in the cablegrams as "'405 others." Exactly what that might mean ho did not know, but apparently th.se did not <•(. me under the military definition of hospital cases nor of convalescent cases. Further details would not be available until the Tahiti came within wireless distance..

Serious Cases in Cities. It was intended to distribute, the men throughout the country to those hospitals nearest to their own homes. All the serious surgical cases must, of course, be dealt with at the main h' spitals, whero experiem ed doctors and nurses were available. The secondary cases would then be distributed as far as possible amongst the smaller hospitals of the province, provided that the medical and nursing services were sufficient. In other word*, there was no intention of ma-sing the .-i. and wounded in th» four main hospitals of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. This system would render unnecessary any large increase in hospital accommodation. The Auckland board's gratifying offer ot 100 beds would, he thought, meet requirements for some time.

A Generous Oiler, Concerning convalescents, the Minister expressed the thanks of the Government to those responsible for the equipment ot the Epsom and Devonport homes. Dr. Valintine and himself had agreed that starting from the most serious cases in hospital the men. as they began tc recover, should be placed in the convalescent homes. Rut they did not want these homes in the immediate vicinity of the large cities. They considered it would be better in the interests of the patients to have them in the oj-en country, where there would not be the same temptations for men whom it was desired should be returned to health as soon as possible. This being so, there would be established two mam convalescent stations. That for tne North Island would be at Kotorua. on leaving which the men would be fit to return to the front, or, if discharged, to go back to their homes. The South Island station would be at Hanmer, also possessing mineral springs. There Mr. Duncan Rutherford had offered, in a spirit of splendid patriotism, the buildings, doctors, and nurses necessary for 160 men. At both these main convalescent stations the object would be to locate as many men as possible who were practically beyond the need of medical or nursing services. It was hoped that in met cases the orderlies might l>e sufficient for their needs. Having paid a tribute to Dr. Valintine. t*ie Minister went on to say that the Government would bear the whole cost of the sick and wounded troops in hospital.

In reply to questions, Mr. Russell said no subsidies would he paid on subscriptions to convalescent homes. These donations were in exa< tly the same position as those paid into patriotic funds. A re < ord was being kept of aJI offers of houses as convalescent homes. The Government would not buy any premises nor, under any circumstances, place troops in private hospitals, or pay for them there.

Deputation from Whangarei. A deputation consisting of the chairman of the Whangarei Hospital Board, Mr. McKenzie, and the chairman of the Whangarei County Council, Mr. McGinnis, waited upon Mr. .Russell later in the forenoon, at the Ministers' rooms, in connection with a proposal that the Government should purchase the Kamo Springs Hotel for hospital purposes. The Minister pointed out that his present visit to the North was almost entirely in connection with the reception and treatment of sick and wounded soldiers. There was, in any case, no immediate necessity for a large extension of the hospital accommodation at Whangarei, and the matter would have to stand over until after the session. He would then visit Whangarei and go into the matter. In the meantime he declined to make any promise as to the proposed purchase of the property

Engagement cl Nurses. A gathering of ladies interested in the various patriotic movements in Auckland was addressed by t:ie Minister in the afternoon at the Town Hali. About 50 ladies were present, and, in addition, some of the members of the Patriotic and War Relief Association and St. John Ambulance Association. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. (iiiuson, presided.

Discussing what the Government had decided upon in connection with the en gaLenient of nurses for sick and wounded soldier-, the Minister said the rirst to be < imaged for active service in the New Zc.iimd camps or in hospitals abroad would be tin so who had passed through the hospital- of the Domin.on and obtained certificates of competency, after having been thoroughly trained. When those had been exhausted, women who had received the training and the certificates from the St. John Ambulance Association would he the next to be called upon. If th se two Indies of nurses could not provide all the nursing requirements in New Zealand or abroad, the Government would look for volunteers prepared to join the nursing service. The only avenue, however, through which such volunteers would he engaged would be the St. John Ambulance Association, the certificates of wliii h would have to he obtained by them. Tims there would he no such thing as an irresponsible body being established. How the Women May Help. As to how the ladies of Auckland could assist the Government, Mr. Bussed suggested the formation of a woman's ministering league to'woik in connection with the Patriotic- Association. They might also arrange for motor-car and launch outings f.» i- the invalided men. Another direction in which women could do u<"'d work would be in ascertaining cases of wives or mothers of soldiers who required assistance. Replying V. questions. the Minister stated that no convalescent homes were wanted that were not under the dire, control of his Department. All necessarv equipment not provided by the public the Government would provide. It was not possible to say how- many homes would bo needed. A vote of thanks to Mr. Russell terminated the proceedings.