LAKE SIDE CAMP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 52, 2 March 1943, Page 5

LAKE SIDE CAMP

MEDICALS AT ROTOMA

WEEK-END TRAINING

Members of the Whakatane Home Guard Medical Corps, to-

gether with a group from the Signallers Company spent an enjoyable week-end in field man-

oeuvres and general ambulance work at Lake Rotoma, com-

mencing last Saturday,

All. who made the trip arc unani-

mous in praising its wori.li and benefit from a utility and practical point of view ami arc looking forward: to the next outing which will facilitate a further step in the advancement of instruction and practical knowledge.

Leaving the showgrounds at '?

p.m. oh Saturday the. unit advanced towards Lake Rotoma under what

were as near as possible to, service conditions. Advanced drcsing stations Avere established at various halting places and the Signallers actiA'ely assisted by the transmission of messages! to the base.

The lake Avas reached at 6.30 p.m. / Avhere most of the men camped at Lieut El. Ramson's bach and which rapidly assumed the appearance of military clearing stations.

An interesting lecture on insensibility and shock was given in the evening by Lieut A. Garling. Revie] le Avas sounded at 6 a.m. and halif an hour later all ranks joined in a short route march headed by the company pipers. The morning Avas utilised Avitli. stretcher drill and advance first aid treatment with criticism by Lieut Carling.

At. noon the party shifted camp and retired in the direction of the plains, again AA-orking in a practical and cffectiA r e. manner with dressing stations and R.A.P. posts.

The outing was a thoroughly enjoyable one the whole of the personnel being greatly appreciate of the chance to vary the usual procedure and gain a little practical knowledge. The thanks of the men are due Lieut. Ramson not only for the use of his bach but also for his splendid organisation and interest in the trip. the rates were raised, as the businessman could always pass on his expenses. But in the country there was no one to pasis them oil; to and, the farmer had'to stand the brunt. It looked almost as if the time Avere here for the producer to take the whtip in hist hand like the Federation Union of Labour, and go on strike! Simply refuse to pay, and thus bring about a show down, Cr McCready: Hear, hear! The chairman: It cannot be denied that all expenses of this nature usually go back to the primary producer. Cr Smith: Then it really means that the rural population is in reality carrying the town's allocation as avcM. Strong Protest Entered The press was asked to give the question the greatest publicity in order to permit ratepayers to become conversant with the details, discuss it fully, and if so desired to enter anj' objections Avliich they may have against the proposal.

The. folloAving motion was then carried, at the instigation of the chairman and Cr Cwate:—

"That this Council emphatically protest to the Hon. the Prime Minister on the greatly increased and ever increasing Hospital maintenance and capital cosits, which increased costs are being and have been brouglit about by the Government's Social Security Legislation and l which costs are an added 1 charge on primary production—thiat this Council considers that hospital rating liability should be established meantime on the 1938 basis and that immediately after the war rating for hospital purposes should be abolished—that this Council is emphatic that by no means a small contributing

factor to increased hospital capital costs is the abolition by the Government of the tender system of contracting—that a letter be also directed! to the Loans Board protesting on behalf of the Whakatane County ratepayers to the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board's £45,000 loan, proposal*^