HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1916, Page 8

HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

FREE FOR RECRUITS. TARAXAKI BOARD HAS DONE ITS DUTY! (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The tedium of the rather purposeless discussion of the Militray Service Bill in the House of Representatives this afternoon was relieved hy an interesting little interlude, for which the publicspirited administration' of the Taranald Hospital fioard' was largely responsible. The Labor member? had been pointing their arguments against compulsory service by quoting the cases of eager volunteers who had been rejected or account of dental troubles and slightly varicosed veins, which could have been easily remedied if the Government had made proper arrangements for their treatment, and the Minister of Defence had replied that several of the hospital boards were providing such treatment, and he was hoping to get other boards to do the same.

When Mr. Okov got an opportunity to speak,, he asked Mr. Allen if the Taranaki Hoard was not among those that recognised their full duty in this matter and did it.

The Minister replied with t very whole-hearted appreciation of the excellent work done by the New Plymouth institution. "The Taranaki Board." he -said, "had done its duty from the first, and has done it very well indeed. It has set an example to the other hospitals o p the Dominion by rendering p service to the men, to the Defence Department, and to the community, that could not be too highly praised. I hope this debate, if it does nothing else, will assist in getting other institutions of the same kind to render a similar service." i'lie Minister's statement was punctuated with emphatic "Hear, hears," and the member for the district ought to have been gratified by the compliment paid to his constituents.

Air. H fl. Ell, the member for Christchurch South, who followed the Minister, also expressed very warm appreciation of the Taranaki Board, but was astounded that Mr. Allen did not see his own duty in this matter and insist upon ali the boards doing the same tiling. "Here we have men giving their lives to the country," he exclaimed, "leaving home and comfort, and, in many cases, wives and children, and yet >ve say to them they just get fit at their own expense before we will allow them to make this sacrifice. T would put a clause in this Bill compelling the local hospitals to do their duty." Mr. Okey: They would do it now if they were asked. Mr. Ell: Then let the. Minister ask them. But they ought to do it without being asked. Mr. Allen: I have asked them.

Mr. Ell: These hospitals are not wholly maintained by the local ratepayers. Tlie Government finds rather more than half of their revenue, and they should do what the Taranaki Board is doing. It is scandalous that men should oe turned away for minor defects, and still more scandalous that they should be required to pay for getting into condition. 1 hope tlie Minister will look into this matter more closely than he appears to have done, and not let the examples set by the Taranaki and Ashburton and one or two other boards go unheeded." Mr. Ell's vigorous little speech aroused a hum of approval across the floor of the 'House, and 'Mr. Allen promised he would see what could be done.