The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1916. HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1916. HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

The discussion which took place at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board relative to a pretest received from the Egmont County Council in respect of the refusal of the hospital authorities to admit an urgent infantile paralysis easy from Opunake, disclosed that the aceomiuodatian at the hospital was considerably overtaxed, and that there is urgent need for utilising the new building. So far as the Opunake case was concerned it was clearly demonstrated that there had been no discourtesy shown, but that it was impossible to find room for the child, who was sent to the Havvera hospital. Mereover, Dr. Walker pointed out that Hie child could be just as well treated at Opunake as anywhere else. The public, however, will naturally feel some concern over the present abn#rmal state af affairs at the hospital. It appears from the discussion that the present institution was built to take twenty-eight patients, and had not been adtled to since. When the number rose to furty-live it was reported to the Board that both the accommodation and staff were taxed to the fullest capacity; kvit the number of patients has now risen to seventy-five, and not only can ns raeai be f»und for more, but the nursing staff is inadequate to cope with the w»rk. The present is an abnormal season, in which serioug epidemics have broken out, the result being that not only is all the available provision for these cases taken up, but the nurses have had to give up tlieir temporary quarters in a near-by cottage. Dr. Walker's statement concerning the overtaxed accommodation at the hospital clearly explains the position, and demonstrates that the nursing staff, a great proportion of which consists of juniors, have keen doing all they possibly could to cope with the work, which was greatly increased by the large number of isolation cases. Some surprise is naturally felt throughout the Taranaki hospital district that the new and costly buildings are still unused. On this point Mr. Maxwell's remarks will be read with interest. The scheme, he stated, was launched at an opportune time, but the strained financial position had led to the great delay in considering the plans and finance. He contended that the Board had done everything in their power to provide the new building as expeditiously as possible. The cliariman also stated that the building was not yet finished, and was certainly not ready for occupation. It is beyond question that the public will not be satisfied for the present unsatisfactory position to remain unremedied for any length of time. What details of the equipment for the new hospital are delaying its being brought into use were not stated. 1>; general, where there is a will a way ean be found to overcome difficulties. While not blaming the Board for „ho delay, the public rightly feel concerned that the new buildings are still idle, while the need for increased accommodation is extremely' urgent, 'ft would seem that the inadequacy of the nursing staff ii one of the serious problems the Board has to face. Tf that were overcome it might probably be practicable to use a portion of the new buildings at least for cases that were in the convalescing stage, and thus provide more room for sc-rious eases in the old building.

of the war, be ready to be turned into producers capable of continuing in the | peaceful fields of industry and commerce the victories they arc winning in tiie field of war, and that there never existed a bettor investment for the country's capital. Theoretically the argument is sound, but in dealing with human nature many allowances have to bo made that are foreign to calculations of a mathematical description. At the same time there is an imperative duty on the part of the Government of the Dominio.i to give all reasonable facilities to these soldiers, who have offered the highest services a man can render, to enable thuii to make the best possible use of (heir opportunities by giving them occupation that will ensure a comfortable future, and stimulate them to a life of usefulness and activity. New Zealand needs more primary producers, and suitable land should be obtained by the Government for all classes of returned soldiers—those who have capital and those who have none. Mr. Anstey would have the Government provide ; she'ep runs, agricultural, dairy, fruit, and other farms, according to the ability of the individual to successfully handle a given quantity of land—large, medium, or small. He puts in a strong plea far securing the Bemnore run, but states that the Premier refuses to entertain the stig est ion, with the result that thirty sections of the property will oe divided up among the stay-at-homes in a few woexs, and only twelve reserved for returned soldiers. The large majority of the men will be those who have uo capital, and Mr. Anstey's desire to nee them receiving even more generous treatment than those who are more fortunately circumstanced, does him infinite credit. These are the men above all others that will need the State's fatherly sid and encouragement. Time passes quickly, and if Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph "Ward make only a reasonable stay on reaching London, it is likely that many requests for laud will have to be mot. As land of the nature required will certainly have, to be purchased, m great measure, it is time that practical steps were taken to place this matter on a satisfactory footing. The Government is pledged to the policy of finding suitable land for returned soldiers, and that pledge should be carried out in the liberal spirit in which it is understood by the country, and not only laud, but financial and advisory help to.gi*e the men a fair start. There will ne uo difficulty in weeding out the drones, the all important duty being to give all the men a chance of making a comfortable existence from oil' the land, and the experiemont should, mi tlr: whole, well repay the country.