CONSUMPTIVE SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1919, Page 6

CONSUMPTIVE SOLDIERS.

,:., AND OPEN-AIR LIFE. .;. : ,j THE WAIPUKURAU FARMWellington, Feb. 3. For our soldiers who come back with tubercular trouble, the Defence Department is providing special treatment, with ample opportunities for the openair life and light but useful occupation. The Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, recently visited the Defence Department's farm near Waipukurau. to see how the arrangements for the reception of soldier patients are progressing. On his return ha gave some details of the scheme. The farm, he stated, is situated about two and a half miles from Waipukurau, the Hawkes Bay township, and has the advantages of A beautiful climate and'a fine view. There are 230 acres of first-ejass land- He found the building operations well in hand, and anticipates that the contract will be completed by the end of April. Trees for shelter have been planted, afid the farm is in running order. The cows are there, the garden planted, and the, vegetables will be available when the sodier patients arrive. There is also an orchard, with an orchardist in charge of orchard and garden. Mr W r . E. Newton, a returned soldier with an outstandingly good knowledge and experience of farm matters, has been appointed farm manager and instructor. ''Soldiers suffering from tubercular trouble," said Sir James Allen, "will go to Waipukurau farm in the same «m as they would go to an ordinary hospital for free treatment, and they will take port in farming operations or gardening or orchard work according as the medical officer considers it likely to help in their recovery. Plenty of provision luu been made for their amusement. The Y.M.C.A. are putting up a large 3ial' v and the Red Cross is providing workshops for vocational training suitable for patients. We hope to. make provision for over a hundred patients, and this number could be doubled, though I am advised that it will not be good policy to have more than 150 patients in any sanatorium." "I am glad to say that wo shall have the valuable services of Dr Blackmo'e, tho head of ihe Cashmere Hills Sanatorium, who will go to Waipukurau to 2ive the institution a start He will probably stay there for three or four months, and I am pleased tbat he is giving us this assistance, for I regard him as probably the foremost authority in the Dominion on the treatment of consumptionCASHMERE HILLS. The Defence Department is also providing additional accommodation for tbe treatment of consumptive soldiers at Cashmere Hills sanatorium, Christchurch. The Minister regards this institution as particularly well placed, for the patients have a glorious view out to sea, across the Canterbury Plains, ami on a fine day a range'of panorama extending up to the Kaikouraß. "We are making provision." said Sir James Allen, "for about fifty patients, and we have already twenty or thirty in the main sanatorium. The extensions designed can be carried on until we can accommodate 130 patients."