SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1920, Page 6

SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL.

i I PAYMENT FOR THEIR TREATMENT. DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S > RESPONSIBILITY. The question of responsibility for the maintenance of soldier patients in the New Plymouth hospital was discussed at the meeting of the New Plymouth Hospital Board yesterday. • Correspondence jvas read from the Department of Health re retrospective payment for treatment of soldier patient?. The Hospital Board claimed £(i00 from the Defence Department, in order to make the fees of soldier patients equal to those of civilian patients. A deputation from the Board waited on the Department over the matter, and had secured a promise of payment of £320. Later, notification was received that the .Defence Department could not make any payment. The justice of the claim was admitted by the Department.

The chairman said that he would like to Bee the matter thrashed out, and he advised making representations to the Premier. Members considered that the treatment was a rank injustice to the Board.' Mr. Gilmour thought it advisable for someone to go to Wellington to interview the Minister of Defence, and, failing obtaining satisfaction there, to go straight to Mr. "Massey, together with the member for Taranaki. He said they were quite justified in claiming the £6OO previously claimed, but since the Detence Department had promised to refund £320, and then tried to wriggle out of paying even that amount, he vroukl like to see the matter thrashed out. "

The secretary said that failing satisfaction from the Defence Department in Wellington, it would be advisable to point out that the Board would be justified in claiming reimbursement from tht hospitals from which the soldier patients in question were transfererd. It was decided to send a deputation to Wellington to interview the Defence Department and the Premier.