SOLDIERS' HEALTH RESORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1916, Page 7

SOLDIERS' HEALTH RESORTS.

PLEASANT VALLEY SANATORIUM. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, October 24. The Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) visited the IPleasant. Valley Sanatorium, near Palmerston South, this morning. Enquiries were made regarding soldier patients, and proposals were considered for extending the building as rapidly as possible to accommodate military cases as these occur. The Minister, on Ms return to Wellington, will discuss with the departmental officer? the question of the Government taking over entire control of the institution from the Hospital Board. & GENEROUS OFFER. Christchurcn', October 2-1. The Hon. G. W. Russell stated tonight that the Mayor ot Christchurch had informed him that a Christchurch gentleman had made a very handsome offer of a' valuable property in North Canterbury which would be placed at the disposal of the Department free of cost for the benefit of soldiers for a space of five years. ■Mr. Russell said he had not received all the details of the offer, but lie could say at once that the owner of the property placed it unconditionally at the disposal of the Department. It certainly would' be accepted with sincere gratitude. "When I say 'unconditionally.' " said Mr. Russell, "I mean as regards the class of soldier patient I can place there. I could not consent to, have this place taking the same class of patient' that could be sent in the ordinary way to the Queen Mary Hospital, as that would merely bo overlapping, and would waste the money which was being spent in erecting and equipping the hospital at Banmer. But if 1 could send consumptive patients-, to this' estate it -would work in very well indeed. Shelters for patients could be erected in suitable places in the grounds surrounding the house, which could in turn be very conveniently used as an administrative block, and the whole institution could accommodate returned soldiers from the northern portion of the South Island who showed signs of having contracted consumption." At a meeting of the City Council tonight the Mayor announced that the property alluded to was the homestead block of Glenmark, and the maker of the offer, Mr. Ronald 0. Duncan. The block- consists of 309 acres, together with homestead buildings, garden, vinery and orchard.