HOSPITAL SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 272, 6 August 1918, Page 3

HOSPITAL SHIPS

SOME EARLY MISTAKES

THEIR WORK GENERALLY APPROVED

"Wc fool hound to say that the reputation which the two New Zealand vesearned abroad as hospital ships seems to have been thoroughly well justified," states the Defence Commission. "This was no doubt due mainly to the broad-gaugo policy adopted at the outset in making comfortable and aiuplo provision in these ships for all contingencies likely to arise in taking care of .the siek and wounded they were intended to accommodate under any conditions likely to bo met with. "When the liosnit.il ships were first commissioned and loft New Zealand equipment was put on board with the idea that the vwsels might l.e absent for a long time—possibly for years—on service;'as, for instance, between Gallipoli and ligypt, or other short runs with freshly wounded men, where consumption of medical stocks was large. Experience showed that this would not be the case, so when the ships returned home and were recommissioned it was decided to reduce the stocks od board, and in ill 3Ga cases of cotton-wool, gauze, lint, drugs, and. sundries were returned to the Officer Commanding the Judical ■Stores, Wellington; also seven thousand articles from the linen section were sent to the Bed Cross Society, while the stock remaining on board is still estimated to be sufficient for the nest eighteen months. "In the absence of knowledge this surplus of requirement provided in 1915 suggested extravagant provision; but t.hu arrangements mado then proved to bo singularly smind, and the fact is that the surplus has now become worth far more than its original cost, and some of the items arc now almost unprocurabletor instinee, cotton-wool, Salvarsan, aspirin, and synthetic drugs generally, liven allowing for interest meantime on the outlay, the net profit from increased value of the surplus stock is very substantial, while in addition to this is vii£ satisfaction that the _ _ eacred necessity of making lull provision lor tho Dominion's wounded was amply recognised and afforded. What would have I been said and what explanation would j havo sufficed bad those hospital ships run short? "Officers and personnel o? the two vessels are changed every commission, representing two voyages in eight or nine months, and are g* veil shore .duties, a change beneficial for health and' the efficiency. of the service. Quartermasters have also been trained to their duties or. board, and the whole system is now running smoothly. Our personal inspection of the hospital ships certainly created an impression of efficiency 111 all departments, and we are convinced that they are at least up to the standard ot Imperial hospital, ships. "We were confidently assured that the hospital equipment of the — had cost over iiOOO. and included oven a midwifery outiU. As a ".natter of fact, wo ascertained that !hc. medical mid surgical equipment, of this shin, while ample, was not excessive, ami was obtained after consultation with three of the bestknown loc:il surgeons, and did not. cost the Dominion more than 4;i:i(10. Sorno of tho instruments were presented—amongst others a ship's outfit—and ■it happened that. one set placed on board a. transport included a midwifery outfit, which is part of the ordinary surgical equipment of every ocean-going vessel. "Summing up, our opinion is that New Zealand has, and always has had. reason to be proud of her hospital :hios, even while admitting that they buffered at tho start from some lack of experience, just as always happens, whether in Government Departments or in private enterprises. when they are called on to meet absolutely unprecedented emergencies."