CHECKING M ABUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16234, 20 May 1916, Page 8

CHECKING M ABUSE.

FREE HOSPITAL TREATMENT

MINISTER'S PROPOSAL.

RECRUITS TO TAKE OATH.

Tbs question of men -who receive remedial treatment to fit them for active service and subsequently fail to report to the recruiting officers is the subject of a letter addressed to the City Becruiting CommittWby the Minister for Defence. " I have to state/' the Minister writes, ** that the Bill which will shortly be before the House will in all probability deal with the matter of the taking of the oath of .allegiance immediately on enlistment." The Minister has asked for a list of the delinquents whom the Auckland Committee can trace, A reply has been sent that the names will be supplied shortly. In its letter to the Minister, the committee stated that difficulty was being encountered owing to the inability of the hospital authorities to provide accommodation for deferred men. The committee suggested that the Government might assist men to receive treatment in private hospitals when they were enable to obtain admission to" the public hospital. To this Mr. Allen replied that the matter would be referred to the Minister for Pubbe Health, "The Eecmiting Board has had under consideration," he added, '"the question of providing some assistance for the wives of men who have to undergo minor operations, and it is intended to make some provision for them. Regulations on the subject are being drafted at the present time." The subject was discussed by the Finance Committee of the Hospital Board yesterday. Mr. P. J. Nerheny said he had learned of cases in which men had claimed the privileges of free treatment at the hospital as volunteers for active service, but had never returned to the recruiting station. Members of the committee agreed that some steps should be taken to guard against such abuse of the benefits provided for recruits. It was decided to consult Major A G. Talbot, the principal medical officer for the Auckland military district.