A REQUEST AND THE ANSWER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 110, 26 January 1918, Page 6

A REQUEST AND THE ANSWER

BRITISH OFFICERS FOR ROTORUAi It will be remembered that, some 1 short- time- ago a request was received ! from the Imperial authorities that Brit- ■[ ish Army officers might receive treatI nient.at.Kotorna. The matter was conI sidered by Cabinet, and it was then j resolved that the imperial authorities bo advised that the Government of New Zealand would provide free medi- | cal treatment, including baths, massage, etc., for twenty flfficers of the Imperial Army at Ilotorua, the officers to make their own provision for board and lodging. Referring to this matter yesteiday the Minister.of Public Health (the Eon. ' G. \V. Russell; said: "A cablegram has 1 now been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies stating that the Army Council expresses .warm ap- [ preciation of the offer of the-New'Zea- • land. Government, but stating that as , a result of inquiries addressed to the ! administrative headquarters . of the i New Zealand Expeditionary Force it is > ascertained that' there is no acconuuo- • dation available' in hospital ships or • transports leaving for New Zealand except for sick and wounded members of . the New Zealand Forces. Under these • circumstances tho Army' Council much I regretted that advantage could not ba i taken officially of the kind offer, of the New Zealand Government.

"I am very sorry that, seeing the small number for which the application was made—twenty—such a decision should have been come to by headquarters of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in England. It would certainly have been a magnificent advertisement for this country if the unequalled opportunties for medical treatment which are available at Rotorua had been mads available to a small number of officers of the British Expeditionary;. Force, New Zealand has built up its tourist traffic at a huge cost extending over many years. • The very latest developments of. science have been brought to bear in equipping our institutions at Rotorua, and the medical service there under Dr. Herhert has done wonders with our returned soldiers during the last two years and a half.' There can be little doubt that if an experimental''body of men of the British Forces came to New Zealand and were, as I feel eure they"wouldrbe,-success-fully treated, we might look for a steady stream of British soldiers, both, officers and men, many of whom would probably make New Zealand their home."