CASUALTY REPORTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2920, 4 November 1916, Page 10

CASUALTY REPORTS

IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED

MINISTER TAKING ACTION

"Tho casualty reports that aro roceived in Now Zealand aro not as full and definite as we would wish them to be," said tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) in reply to complaints that have been made. "The fault is not at this end. Wo are giving the peoplo of Now Zealand every bit of information that is received, and wo aro communicating with the responsible authorities in London with the object of 'scouring improvements in tho system. We arc doing our best to secure a reliable classification of tho wounded, so that the relatives here may know whether the wound is slight, serious, or dangerous, and we would like to be ablo to tell the next-of-kin in each ease what hospital tho patient is occupying. '"l'lie difficulties admittedly are very great, especially when largo numbers of wounded men are . being handled, in a hurry. Tho men are draltod into hospitals as occasion arises and space permits. Tho iirst consideration is to get them into the best possiblo surroundings as quickly as possible, and naturally tho medical officers have little time to spare for supplying information to inquirers. Tho records staff appears to be doing its bost, but it is liable to get swamped with messages of inquiry after the indication of long casualty lists in this country. But tho wholo subject is receiving attention, and I havo been in communication with the New Zealand Base with tho object of effecting improvements. The Defence Department would like to so arrange matters that tho casualty lists would contain tho information desired by relatives as to the nature of tho injury, and would be entirely reliable. Wo would like to be able to givo progress reports, so that there would be 110 need for privato inquiries, which are always liable to add to the troubles of an overworked staff. These private inquiries, I may say, sometimes assunio very largo proportions." 'l'he Minister added that he was convinced, from what ho. had seen and heard, that tho staff of the Records Office in Now Zealand was working efficiently and ivoll. If delays occurred and occasional mistakes had to be rectified, the fault did not lie with the officers in Now Zealand, who wero performing their part of tlie work prorrfptfy and thoroughly.