SOLDIER PATIENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21525, 13 September 1941, Page 9

SOLDIER PATIENTS

PROBLEM FOR HOSPITALS

GOVERNMENTS INACTIVITY MATTER A NATIONAL ONE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday The burden placed on hospital boards and contributing bodies by the present system of treatment of disabled soldiers from overseas was remarked upon by Mr Windley at the Makara County Council meeting. The subject arose from a letter from the Wellington Hospital Board asking the council to agree to raising a loan of £IB,OOO to erect additions and provide equipment for a nurses’ home at the Wellington Hospital. Mr Windley said the war had been going on two years and the Government had provided ample and efficient accommodation for men being trained. Surely it was time it realised that some of these men would be coming bask and needing treatment. In recent years the Government had spent millions of pounds unwisely, whereas if it had invested some of the money in providing hospital accommodation it would have been doing something of real value to the whole Dominion.

Mr Windley said he failed to see how hospital boards were going to meet the situation. He thought the Government should confer with boards and should definitely do a great deal more than it was doing at the nresent time.

The chairman. Mr J. Purchas: Military activities are going to be foisted on to the civil side of life, and that is not a fair thing at all. The whole thing should be taken over and administered by the State through the Consolidated Fund. Until that is done the position cannot be remedied.

Mr Hume: The Government, is doing something; it is going to make doctors work harder.