FOR THE WOUNDED.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1915, Page 4

FOR THE WOUNDED.

OSM» OF THE NEW HOSPITAL. NOT WANTED AT PRESENT. In reply to the offer of the Taranaki Hospital Board of the new hospital for soldiers invalided home, the chairman (Mr. F. C. J. Bellringer), yesterday received the following telegram from Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals: "1 have considered the question of the hospital with the Minister, who is very grateful for your offer, but he Buggeets that as the present hospital is overcrowded you occupy the new building if you consider it desirable. We will let you know as soon as possible how many beds will be required, bwt do not anticipate a rush just yet." Mr. Bellringer stated last night that he gathered from this telegram that the Government would not avail itself of the offer at present, and he also mentioned that the reference to changing into the new hospital indicated that the Government had failed to grasp the position. A later telegram received by Mr. Bellringer stated: "Initial information 10 hand regarding returning sick and wounded shows three oases ox Tofua, 1 and one oase ex Willochra for the New Plymouth Hospital. The offer of the new hospital to the Government was referred to at the meeting of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee yesterday, when Mr. T. C. List expressed a wish to hear an explanation of the offer from Mr. Bellringer. He feared there was some misapprehension in regard to the offer and he thought it was only fair to Mr. Bellringer to hear what he had to say on the matter. Mr. Bellringer stated the position on the lines of his explanation in yesterday's News. Some three or four montns ago, the new hospital was offered to the Government. Then last week a further offer was made—an offer which he personally made after consultation with the town members of the Hospital Board and the medical superintendent, hut this offer, he wished it understood, had not yet been confirmed by the Board. As it was known that many wounded men were returning to New Zealand, htr approached the medical superintendent to see what accommodation New Plymouth could offer, but the medical superintendent said it was impossible to take any of the cases in the present hospital. It was then decided to offer the Government the new hospital, unstaffed and unfurnished. The medical superintendent could not take over the new hospital in addition to his present duties, the nursing staff was fully taxed, and, though contracts had been let for the furnishing, the contracts could not bo carried out yet. Mr. BellrlngerV opinion was that the Government should staff and furnish the hospital, and it had to be remembered that furnishing the building as a military hospital was different from the ordinary furnishing requirements. The hospital was here for the Government, and the Board would assist the Government in every possible way to furnish and staff the hospital. He did not think it was tho duty of the ratepayers to staff and furnish the hospital for the benefit of the Government. Mr. (Bellringer mentioned that Dr. Leatham had offered to act (as medical superintendent, but, of course, he would need assistance. The new hospital Had been contsructed to accommodate 800 patients, but it could easily take 400. Offers from ex-nurses who were willing to assist had been reer'ved,

In answor to Mr. T C. List, Mr. Bellringer said he had not received any offer from the bowlers of Taranaki to assist. Mr. List said he felt quite sure that if the Hospital Board had made an unconditional offer of the hospital, staffed and furnished, they would have'got the required assistance. The people of Taranaki would have been only too.willing to come forward and help and all the financial assistance. necessary could have been found easily. Mr. J. E. Wilson said he, for one, would not undertake to And funds for the hospital, the matter being one entirely for the Government to deal with. If this was done it would mean that the same people who had teen coming forward in answer to every appeal would havo to bear this new burden, and they would be paying for the care of men from all over the Dominion—a duty which certainly devolved on the Government. It would be quite proper for anyone who wished to do so to provide gifts for the hospital, but be did not think the Patriotic Committee should do anything in the way of providing eijuipmcnt. Mr. W. A. Collis agreed t'mt the care of New Zealand soldiers was a Dominion matter and should be paid for by the Dominion, and not by fie people of New Plymouth. .Mr List said be never suggested that Taranaki should maintain the hospital. He merely considered- that Taranaki should equip the hospital, and he had no doubt that this would have been done. In regard to the staff, he knew of several ex-nurses who were willing to come forward, and the medical profession was willing to assist. The matter then dropped

HOSPITAL BOARD AND THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS. To the Editor. Sir,—The patriotic people of New Plymouth have been disappointed and hurt by the reply sent to the Hon. G. W. Russell in answer to his request for the use of the new hospital for the 250 wounded men arriving by the Tofua, It is evident the Hospital Board made no enquiries as to the possibility of providing doctors or nurses, for had they done so they would have found no difficulty in securing all who were required in the Taranaki district. The contractors are ready to deliver a large part of their contracts, and the people of New Plymouth would gladly provide whatever might be required. The bowlers of Taranaki are eager to assist in this direction and would give substantial help. But the discouraging, if not indeed discourteous, reply sent by the Hospital Board to the ' Health Department has created the impression that wc are neither patriotic nor generous. This highhanded action of <he Hospital Board has given offence to the Health Department and has put the people of Taranaki inl a very false position.—l am, etc., CITIZEN.