HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION DEPUTATION TO COLONEL VALINTINE AID PROMISED.

Southland Times, Issue 17795, 28 May 1918, Page 5

HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION

DEPUTATION TO COLONEL VALINTINE

AID PROMISED.

A deputation, consisting of about twentyfive ladies and gentlemen, representative of bodies interested in the soldier after his return to New Zealand, waited upon Colonel Valintine (Director of Military Hospitals), last night, for the purpose of stressing the necessity for accommodation for soldiers. The Mayor (Mr Jno. Stead, 0.8.. E.) introduced Colonel Valintine. In doing so he said that no one could dream of Invercargill ever hesitating to help the men who hud fought for us. The matter of establishing hospitals for our soldiers should have been attended to long ago, but no one had thought that the war would last so long. Mr Royds (Chairman of the War Funds Association) was the first speaker. In carrying out their work the members of the organisations represented had had forced upon them the realisation that the hospital accommodation was not sufficient. The Southland H. and C.A. Board had done excellent work, but because of so many men returning, they had had to advise the authorities that they could not be responsible for those returning lately. The time had arrived to provide the accommodation referred to. This district felt that it should not be necessary for any appeal to the people to be made for providing a convalescent home. It was just as much the duty of the Government to look after the men when they returned as it 'Was when they were on service. This district was prepared to do its fair share, and, no doubt if anything extra were necessary, would be prepared to provide it.

Mr Hall-Jones (President of the Returned Soldiers’ Association) said that it was his very deep conviction that there was urgent need for the Defence Department providing a hospital or soldiers’ wing, together with a convalescent home. The war was going to go on for a long time, and some accommodation would be necessary as time went on. To-day the staff of the Hospital were quite unable to attend to those going for treatment. The last four drafts who had returned had not been able to gain admission, and some had had to go to other districts. It was very inadvisable to have the men who had recovered somewhat mingling with those still ill—nothing retarded progress more greatly. The method of separating the ill and the convalescent had been followed with great success at Rotorua and in England. The Returned Soldiers’ Association asked that if anything were done for wounded men in Invercargill this scheme should be followed. He would particularly like to stress the importance of massage. Until recently there had been a very competent masseuse at the Hospital who, because of too devoted work, had broken down in health. The massage given at Home was largely done by appliances with which one masseuse could attend to 60 or 70 patients daily. Without such only an average of 20 could be attended to. He would urge that three masseurs be procured immediately. There was a massage school in Dunedin at which, after two years’ study, one could secure a certificate of competence. He thought that the Government in this connection should show the same initiative as they had shown when a shortage of telegraph operators was threatened. Then there were a number of people who possessed a considerable knowledge of massage without possessing the necessary certificates. He would suggest that these people be given the shortest possible course of training, and allowed to practise. Although not a political body, the Returned Soldiers’ Association was a strong supporter of the National Government in its war work, he continued. Although he was not there to make carping criticism, he did say that if the Government did not give immediate attention to the matter it would be guilty of most culpable negligence to the men who would return in the future.

Miss Thomson (President of the Red Cross Society), said that her society was open to give its hearty support to any movement aiming at promoting the health and happiness of our returned soldiers. Mr M. Thompson (Vice-President of the War Funds Association), said that it was the duty of the Government to see that everything possible was done for the men who had returned to New Zealand. The people were the Government; they were the taxpayers, and found and spent the money. After paying a tribute to the National Government, Mr Thomson went on to say that the treatment of the wounded men would be too much for the Health Department, but the Defence Department—the only department which at present had power to borrow money—had the ability. They could spend money to establish a “Cl” camp. If they could spend money to make men fit before service, they could also spend money to make them fit after service.— (Applause.) The Charitable Aid Board had done good work for the soldiers, but they had now reached the stage where they could do little more. There was a ■proposal that the Board should build a hospital at Kew. If the Government intended to spend money on soldiers, could they not ask the Board to go and build now? The Department could secure one wing for soldiers, and could build a convalescent homo in the same grounds. What he wished to emphasise was that it was the duty of the Government to provide hospital and convalescent accommodation for the soldiers. He was convinced that a block of suitable buildings could be erected in Invercargill at a cost that would be well within the sum the Department would be prepared to spend. Such a building would be suitable for civilians in days to come. Mr A. H. Stock, of the Soldiers’ Club, was the next speaker. He stressed the importance of massage treatment. The Mayor said that it appeared to him that it would be about eighteen months before a hospital could be built for the men. He had heard of several people who were prepared to turn their homes over temporarily as convalescent homes. He thought that there was much in such offers. COLONEL VALINTINE’S REPLY.

Colonel Valintine who, on rising to reply, was cordially received, said that up to that evening he had thought that the returned soldiers were getting the BEST TREATMENT AVAILABLE, but from what he had heard that night, and from his own observations, he had realised that such was not the case in Southland. In the larger hospitals he was sure that the treatment was good, hut he would admit that here the men were not getting the treatment they so thoroughly deserved. This must he put right.— (Applause. I It was not because of the influx of soldier? that the hospital accommodation was being taxed, he continued. The accommodation was not sufficient to provide for civilian cases. It had been suggested that the Government should institute convalescent homes, but they already had such at Hanmer, Rotorua, and Auckland, while they would shortly be built at Dunedin and Wanganui. He quite admitted the necessity for these homes, but he did not for one moment admit that it was necessary to have them established altogether locally. Provided there was sufficient hospital accommodation, it was not always necessary to provide convalescent homes. It had been suggested that the Government should establish and maintain these homes, but some bodies did not take this view. At Epsom, Wanganui, and Dunedin, patriotic societies were maintaining the homes, and were being paid one guinea per week by the Government for each soldier patient. If a home were established here, he suggested that it should be on similar lines, but if the patriotic societies were not prepared to meet the Government in the matter, the Government would shoulder its responsibilities.— (Applause.) As the Government had' done everything possible to send men to the firing line, they would do everything possible for those who returned. Regarding THE QUESTION OF MASSAGE, matters were very unsatisfactory. Very large schools had been established at Rotorua, Dunedin, and Auckland, and the Department were doing the best they could to train masseurs speedily. In connection with accommodation he was authorised to say that the Department was prepared to erect immediately temporary buildings, and if the Hospital and C.A. Board decided to build a permanent structure, the Depart-

ment was prepared to pay the coat of the proposed temporary building towards the scheme, provided accommodation was found for not fewer than 25 soldiers in the Southland Hospital during the next six months. (Loud applause.) The Mayor thanked Colonel Valintine for his attentive hearing, and for his promises ‘of help, and the deputation withdrew.