ARTIFICIAL LIMB WORKSHOPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19107, 28 February 1924, Page 8

ARTIFICIAL LIMB WORKSHOPS.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT’S POLICY HOSPITAL BOARD’S CRITICISM. (B’eoh Ova Own CorrebpondkwF) CHRISTCHURCH, February 27. The Finance Committee of-'the Hosnital Board reported to-da- that theboard agreed to take over from the Defence Department the splint and artificial limb workshops. The stock and tools were taken over at valuation prices, and recently suitable accommodation for patients had been constructed without any notice to th.? bo-wd. It had been discovered that the Defence Department had entered into amingoimuus for the construction of artificial limbs in metal, and that the supply would be made from the Government department’s workshops in Wellington. This decree immediately brought the board’s workshops to a standstill, and up to now no intimation had been received from the Defence Department with regard to the cavalier manner in which the board had been treated, the first intimation that there was some change of policy proposed was an article which appeared in the newspapers towards the end of January. This article was cut out and sent to the Department of Health in Wellington, making inquiries as to the intention of the Government. No reply was received to this, and more recently a local appeared in one of the newspapers stating that an expert had arrived from England and that He would be giving instruction to the artificial limb workers in the Government workshops. A further letter was sent to the Department of Health asking if information could be obtained, and to the department’s intention, and also asking whether the imported export could give instructions to the men employed in the board’s workshops. Those letters were referred by the Director-general of Health to the Director-general of Medical Services and in his reply he stated that ho had sent two letters' to the secretary of the board. He went on to slate that it was the intention of the Government to construct artificial limb work for military amputees in Wellington. As n matter of fact, no letters were received, and a reply was sent to the Director-general of Health informing him and asking if he could obtain from the Director-general of Medical Services a copy of the letters which he apparently imagined he had sent.

Mr W. K. Leadley said that be was very sorry that the two men had been dismissed. In His opinion the fault was with the Department of Defence. He moved that the report, be referred back to the committee for further consideration. Ho did this because the departmental officers had told him that when the Hospital Board had men trained in the new method, the -men would be naid for their work. There should bo a limbless depot in the South Island for repairs to wooden legs, and it would be needed for some considerable time. Dr Fenwick supported the motion, and said that the two men who had been paid off could be extremely useful in their trade, but being limbless -men themselves they could not obtain other employment. The clause was referred back to the committee.