MILITARY BASE HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2360, 16 January 1915, Page 8

MILITARY BASE HOSPITAL

A REAL NEED S VIEWS OF THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR STATE & PRIVATE AID 'A week or more ago The Dominiok , "published particulars of a- scheme under which it is proposed to establish a mili'tary base hospital for New Zealand at : iTrentham Camp. The council of the i ANewZealand branch of the British Association took the matter up * "and;-after an interview-'with the Coini 'mandant of the New Zealand Force*, | stated" that it had been .made abuu- \{ ■ dantlv clear that there was'urgent need for the institution. The chairman of f the council, Dr. J.. S. Elliott, informed a Dominion, .representative that about >'£2000 was ,required, and an appeal was Isnado ;to-the publio. ■ . 1 In view of the attitude adopted by r 'some medical men outside Wellington, i Colonel Piirdy, Director 'of Medici r Somcesy "was interviewed on tho sub* : nect yesterday afternoon. He said that Jie. had noticed 'in a newspaper that %ho-Dunedin : division of the Medical Association hail turned down the base, Shospitnl. scheme, and; was advocating 'that funds sliould be collected for the relief r of, .-Belgian doctors and pharmacists. He thought it- was a laudable thing- tojhelp'. thcfie' people, but he did r not. think that the- ,Dunedin division had taken a judicious course in publish- !. ing views wffich might damage a well- : ■ throught-out scheme of the central coun•Clh • - 1 ■ ' - -

"Of course, their.positiqn is absolutely illogical," he said! "Besides, they have not stated'the position correctly. Tho New Zealand Government is doing all that they ought to do, and a great deal more, "for our troops. ' For instance, fourteen motor ambulances had been ordered from London weeks before the Napief - Medical Division stoted theircampaign to raise funds, for motor ambulances." 'I'had advised tho Governinent that ten would more than suffice ifor the needs .of: our troops, and yet. -t-lioy- ordered fourteen." ■ . ,

•- Wifcii"' /'regard- to' the Central. Cobncil's„,appeal for the hospital, Colonel Purdy, .said . ;that. : the Government had already in hand a scheme for hospital buildings. Entering into.': the . details of the "subject Colonel Purdy said: "So far, of course, ,we have kept our sick in tents or sent them'to Wellington Hospital, and the authorities have been paying for ambulance traction and upkeep of men in ihospital something like, on an. average, £55 per week for many weeks now. The association appealed for £2000. Now, Jthit is ; a very small fraction of the cost •ofia'larger hospital. It would only put •up tho shell of the buildings. 'AU the equipment and personnel would be prodded by tho Government. As a matter of fact, the.: ..Government are: doing everything' that could or ought to be expected, and what is really wanted is .voluntary help to give extra facilities rand comforts for the men.: It has now ibeen decided'that the Government wili put up the hospital, butt will bo glad of outside help for special hospital equip-.-iniint. This has • been given in every country. ".England, with wliich we are <jnoie immediately concerned, has asked. for, and received, much voluntary financial assistance. Hospitals, hospital . ships, hospital trains, motor-cars, am'hulances, special equipment, etc., have i been given to the British Government-, and no one lias ventured to say that this should not ho done, or.,flint it is ;a wrong thing to do, because the British Government should provide everything accessary for the troops. Instead l , :-the voluntary gifts have beon fi'eely accepted and gratefully acknowledged, /and all the Press has been jubilant about' the wonderful response of the people. It hai been left for the Dun:.«din division to raise tho question, and (topoint out that all this voluntary Shelp is wrong. Why should it be considered wrong here to get voluntary help for sucli a. purpose, while in England it is considered a glorious thing -to do? I hold that, worthy though . many causes may be, the first duty of a community'is to help its own people. [ "There is a, real need for the £2000, and it would have been a good thing 'for the Medical Association in New Zealand had its name been assooiated with 'such a projeot. Tho need is known to , thospS'who: work ;on the spot) and- will become evident to others as time goes •.ton and our sick and wounded begin to ' jeturn."