CASHMERE SANATORIUM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 300, 13 September 1920, Page 8

CASHMERE SANATORIUM

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT EETAINS CONTBOL.

By Teleßraph-PreßS Association, fihristchurch, September 11. Tho proposed transfer of control of the Cashiniero Military Sanat>rium from the Defence Department to tho North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable. Aid Board has been abandoned. Tho Hospital Board was to havo taken over tho institution on September 1, but as the result of this urgent, representations of nearly all the patients, tho Government has decided that the Defence Department shall retain control.

A special meeting of tlie Hospital B:nrd was held to-day to'consider ithe whole matter. Jir. H. J. Otley (chairman) said the subject was an unpleasant one so far as the board was concerned. The taking over of the Chalmers Ward had apparently been satisfactory, aa no complaints had been raised. Everything at the sanatorium 6ince August 31 had been equally satisfactory, He might say at tho outset that so far as the l>:-ard was concerned there was no advantage to it, s beyond the duty to tho men -and the country. Tho Defence Department was met in every possible way. When the soldiers who interviewed the secretary to the board left him thpy appeared to bo perfectly, satisfied, yet they must have immediately telegraphed to General M'Gavin and others. Tho board had reason to complain that it wns not asked if tt<e complaints were correct before the Minister took the action he had. Tf General M'Gavin had taken the trouble to find out tho truth of the matter he would not liiavo acted as he had. The men would have been better off under the board than they were under the Department. Tho Department's officer who was fr> become the board's officer bud issued instructions without the board's authority, and the General should have paid the board the compliment of making inquiries first. He was surprised at the Department's action, which j( he thought was "absolutely disgusting." t Mrs. Wilson said that the action taken by tho Government was "absolutely preposterous," but the board could congratulate itself. They had been prepared to do tho best for the men, but the who e thing would have been a great trouble and 'the board was well rid of it. . Mr. Evans said, that the tone of the General's corresnond&nce was an insult to the board. The Government should give them fair play. He moved that tho wfclote correspondence should be given to the Press eo that tho public might judge for themselves. Mr. J. Storry seconded the motion, and nr"otl that the correspondence be also not into Hansard by some member of Parliament raising a question mi the House. He was sure the Defence ■Minister (Sir E, Heaton Ehodes) would desire to be fair to the board. The motion was agreed to. Mr Sirensen said that if the development was a .sample of the militarjr ■ way then "God help the country.' 1 O board had agisted the Department m every way and this was the return. They had met the' General at every psint and hid received an insult. . Mr Smith said that it was a ease of "save us from our friends Red tape was "the verv devil." but red tabs e tai^r f decision and now refuse to taU control of the sanatorium. At the chairman's suggestion Mi. bmnli withdrew his motion. ,' , It was unanimously decided that the chairman's report be f received and that