HEALTH OF THE TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 4

HEALTH OF THE TROOPS

SANITARY SECTION FOR THE . FRONT. It was stated by the Minister o! Defence (tho Hon. J. Allen) yesterday that Cabinet had decided to raise a sanitary section for service with tha Now Zealand Expeditionary Forces. This, remarked the Minister, meant a new departure, but sanitary sections sections had already been established by the Imperial authorities. It would lioosist of an officer, two sergeants, and twenty-four Tank and file. The proposal was that they should be_ organs ised at once, and go away- with the Twelfth RcLiorcemcnte. Tho matter of sanitary sections was mentioned in a letter, published soma days ago, from Dr. Makgill, the Health Officer' at Auckland, who went to Egypt as a military officer. "New Zealand," said Dr. Makgill, "should certainly organise proper 6anitary sections and squads. Not just the vagus sanitary detachment who form part of the strength of tho battalions, etc., but a proper sanitary section such a.l are doing good work here and in France. They are becoming freely recognised now, though they are a new thing, and this is tho first time they, have been- used in warfare, but I suppose there are ovsr 2000 of .them realy, and more are needed. So New Zealand should s"nd a trained sanitary seotion to look after her men. Bach division has a seotion attached, consisting of an officer (a D.P.H. man), and 27 men, all of whom should bo men of special training—architects, surveyors, sanitary engineers, and experienced civilian inspectors, and so on. My present sergeant is a surveyor, and my corporal an analyst to a tog town municipality, and so on. >ve want educated men for this work, with' a sprinkling of handy men, practical mechanics, and so forth. Von comd send a fino lot from New Zealand.