HEALTH OF THE SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2690, 9 February 1916, Page 7

HEALTH OF THE SOLDIER

. ■ —« —— additional safeguards Auckland doctor's sucgeS" tion. „The Minister of Public Health (tho +w 'i. '" c stated .yesterday tilat he had received an interesting refrom, iJie Inspector-General of Hospitals bearing upon a communication i™? D'" Makj»ill, the health officer at Auckland, who proceeded to the front as a military officer. Dr. Miikgill, the stated, now holds the position o. chief sanitary officer for the Alexandria district, with supervision over some twenty camps, numerous hospitals and other sanitary matters. He had under him five sanitary sections, each with its own captain (R.A.M.C.) in charge. It might be regarded as another compliment to New Zealand that an officer of the Public Health Department of the Dominion should have been selected for this high, and responsible position. ' The Minister said that'in the letter which had been received from Dr. MakCill the following interesting suggestions were made:— "New Zealand should certainly or- •, gamso proper sanitary sections and squads. Not just the vague sanitary detachment who form part of the strength .of battalions, etc., but a proper sanitary section such as are doing good work here and in France. They are. becoming freely recognised now, though they are a new thing, and this tllo first time they have been used in warfaro, but I suppose there are over 2000 of them already, and more ire needed. So New Zealand should innd a trained sanitary section to look jftei-, her men. Each division has a section attached consisting of an officer 1 ,(a D.P.H. man), and 27 men, all of ' whom should be men of special training : —architects, surveyors, sanitary, engineers, and experienced civilian inspec- ! tors, and so on. My present sergeant is a surveyor, arid my Corporal an ' analyst to a big town municipality, and 85 on. We want educated men for this work .with a sprinkling of h.anclv men, practical- mechanics, and so forth. You could send 3/ fine lot from New Zea- > land." \ The Minister has forwarded the communication in the Minister of Defence' for his consideration, with a strong recommendation that the suggestion of : Dr. Makgill should be given effect to.