FUNDS FOR QUI NHON

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 1

FUNDS FOR QUI NHON

M.P. Suspects

Misuse (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 11. The Vietnamese Government’s method of financing the New Zealand medical unit’s work at Qui Nhon Hospital was attacked today when Dr. A. M. Finlay, member of Parliament for Waitakere, said he suspected that vital funds had been misdirected.

Speaking to the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club, Dr. Finlay, who was one of the Parliamentary team of four which visited Vietnam recently, said the hospital budget had been considerably underspent.

“It would seem that the present military junta has not used all the funds available, and I suspect that they have been drawn and spent on other aspects of Vietnamese life,” he said. Accusing the Vietnamese of relying too much on the Americans to handle their affairs, he said that their attitude to finance in general was “one of complete incomprehension.” “There is not the slightest shadow of doubt that this whole operation at Qui Nhon could be considerably improved if our people were allowed to move in and take complete control,” he said. This lack of finance and organisation was evident in the appalling conditions in which the medical team had to work, he said. From a population of more than a million in Qui Nhon, there were more than 50,000.

people in the hospital area who were living in the utmost squalor. Wards Were badly overcrowded and in some cases there were as many as three people in one bed. Staff were having to work an 11-hour day.

Dr. Finlay praised the medical team for valuable work in “terrifying conditions”.