REORGANISATION OF THE TOURIST DEPARTMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12748, 20 April 1909, Page 5

REORGANISATION OF THE TOURIST DEPARTMENT.

Health Retorts to toe opened for

the Poor,

(Per United Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, April 19. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Tourist Department, who has been on a visit to Otago and Southland, returned to Christchurch by the first express on Saturday evening, and lett by the evening's steamer for Wellington.

Interviewed with regard to the thermal regions at Hanmer and Rotorua, the Minister stated that he intended to place before the Government a proposal by which accommodation might be provided for invalids suffering from rheumatism and other complaints, who were unable, through lack of funds, to visit health resorts. The idea was to reduce the present charges for treatment, the balance of the expense being borne by the Board of Hospital and Charitable Aid of the district from which the patient came, thus relieving the Government' of any extra expense in connection with these already expensive and practically non-revenue producing places. The Minister pointed out that the subsidies and rates received by the local bodies in question would enable them to bear this charge, and many invalids who through straightened circumstances had to linger on in ill-health, would have a good opportunity of being cured. The Minister added that he had been very busy lately, generally reorganising the Tourist Department, and would probably have a communication to make public in regard to new schemes at an early date.