BACKBLOCKS DISABILITIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 406, 21 October 1911, Page 5

BACKBLOCKS DISABILITIES.

ABSENCE OF MEDICAL AID

SETTLERS' RE(OjiSIIION

The question of providing medical id for lhe bavkhhii:!;s was brought before tiio \\ aiUato uospkal Board yesterday moraine «>y Mr Elliott, who

appeared beiore the board as a imputation representing about SOI) settlers in the district between Te Kuiti and the West Coast.

Mr Elliott pointed out the difficulties under which backblock settlers laboured, through the absence of any !:i:nl of medical aid in cases of accident and illness,' the nearest doctors being Te Kuiti, which was situated upwards of fifty miles from some parts of the district. He stated that a large meeting of settlers was held a short time ago, when it wa3 decided to forward a deputation to Wellington. Thi3 deputation was well received by the Minister, who informed them that the Waikato Hospital Board had a Piunkett nurse at its disposal, while another one would be available in a short time. The Minister promised the deputation that if the board would erect a cottage hospital, or some building suited to the requ rement3 of the backblock settlers of that district, the Government would subsidise to the usual amount. The speaker informed the Board that only a short time ago the lives of two women were lost in this district, which, had a medical man and a nurse been available would have been saved. He estimated tho cost of the building at £SOO and the doctor's salary at £3OO. Pio Pio was suggested as the most suitable place for the institution, as this was the place most easily accessible, the loads from all parts of the districts converging there.

A general discussion took place on the question, the board expressing its entire sympathy with settlers of the backblocks. Lack of finances was mentioned as the chief obstacle to the carrying out of the suggestions of Mr Elliott, but it was considered that the matter of catering for the whole of the back districts within the hospital radius, would soon have to be taken in hand, and consideration of the matter was left over for a month to permit of a thorough discussion of the question.