HOSPITAL SHIP

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9092, 10 July 1915, Page 9

HOSPITAL SHIP

EQHIPMENT AGAIN DISCUSSED.

Mr Mander (Marsden) asked if the Defence Department had been responsible for the equipment of the hospital ship, or if the blankets, etc., had come from private sources. The Defence Minister said the Government had been prepared to pay for everything connected with the hospital ship, but it hod actually paid for the internal fittings, the beds and tho ordinary stores. His Excellency the Governor Ead raised a fund for the provision of bedding, instruments, medical stores and other articles of equipment. The Defence Department had supervised tho whole work. "I will take the opportunity afforded by this question,’’ said the Minister, "to sot at rest any doubt that may have been raised yesterday by the action of an honourable member of this House in taking samples of bedding and cutting out a piece of a rug." Dr Thacker: "No T* The Minister: "I heard the honourable member had out a piece out of a rug.” The Minister added, that some 550 of the mattresses were made by Messrs Sooullnr and Company and they have been sterilised. THE MATTRESSES AGAIN. Later in the proceedings the Minister for Defence said ho had learned that the mattresses supplied by Messrs Scoullar and Company for the hospital ship had been made and sterilised under the supervision of a Government official. The firm had supplied 558 mattresses, 559 paliasses, and - 153 bolsters. He would in-

quire if the gift mattresses had been * E4 phync: “Was the supervisor a medical man?” „ The Minister: "I cannot say. Dr Thacker: "Does ho state wnar metnod or sterilisation iraa adopted: The Minister: "Do you question his method?" Dr Thacker: "I very likely would.