RETURNED WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2561, 8 September 1915, Page 2

RETURNED WOUNDED

THE HOSPITAL ARRANGEMENTS. [ The Hon. G. TV. Russell (Minister of Public Health), speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday, said that as far as possible every reasonable con-, tingency had been provided for in connection with tlio return of the wounded soldiers" by the Tahiti on Saturday next, Hospital boards had offered a large number of beds, and it was his intention to place the men in the hospitals nearest tlicir own homos, provided that the' hospital staffs ,in eaoh ense could cope with the number of cases. The more serious coses, of course, would have to 1)0 placed in the larger Hospitals, where. the special equipment and staffing were. A large number of the men would already be convalescent wlie\i the ship arriyed, and many of the men who were hospital cases when they returned on the Willoclira were now reaching the convalescent stage. As he had already announced, two main convalescent stations would bo at Rotorua and Hanmor. Tlie.maiii hospital at Hanmer would be considerably enlarged, so as to accommodate at least 70 patients, and all the latest equipment would be available at the baths. The convalescent, permanent camp at Rotorua would be on Pukeroa Hill, overlooking Ohinemutu and the lake. ' ' , With regard to the financial aspect of the arrangements, Mr. Russell said that he had received an offer of £500 from Mr. Hope Gibbons, of W'anganui, for the equipment of ■ a convalescent pavilion, and he had just received a telegram from • Commissioner Hodder. offering £500 for one pavilion on behalf of the Salvation* Army. During his recent visit to Oliristchuroh a number of gentlemen had proposed to .organise a. patriotic race meeting in that city in a few weeks. From the largo profits which they ejected to make they would donate £300 ,for the establishment of a pavilion at Hannier. Hanmer would be equipped as far as possible on the lines j adopted at Rotorua. He hoped that the Patriotic Committees of New. Zealand would forward contributions to the fund for equipping the'convalescont stations, arid lie believed tliat from the committees and from the patriotic people the wliolo of the equipment for tlib stations would be provided without the State, being required J;o contribute a penny to Hie cost.