THE MILITARY WAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1920, Page 7

THE MILITARY WAY.

"GOD HELP THE COUNTRY." CONTROL OF CASHMERE SANATORIUM. Christchurch, Sept. 11. The proposed transfer of the control "f the Cashmere military sanatorium from the Defence Department to tlie North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has been abandoned. The Hospital Board was to have taken over the institution on September Ist., but, as the result of the urgent representations of nearly all the patients, the Government has decided that the Defence Department shall retain control. A special meeting of the Hospital Board was held to-day to consider tlie whole matter. Mr. H. J. Otley (chairman) said the subject was an unpleasant one so far as the board was concerned,. The taking over of tlie Chalmers Ward had apparently been satisfatcory, as no complaints had been raised, and everything at the sanatorium August 31st has been equally satisfactory. He might say at the outset that, so far as the board was concerned, there was no advantage to it beyond the duty to the men and the country to assist the Defence Department. The department was met in every possible way. When the soldiers who interviewed the secretary to the board left him they appeared to be perfectly satisfied, yet they must have immediately wired to General Gavin and others. The board had reason to complain that it was not asked if the complaints were correct before the Minister took tlie action he had. If General McGaviu had taken the trouble to find out the truth of the matter he would not have acted as he had. The men would have been better off under the board than they were under the department. The department's officer, who was to become the board's officer, had issued instructions without the board's authority, and the general should have paid the board the compliment of making inquiries first- He was surprised at the department's action, which, he thought, was absolutely disgusting. "ABSOLUTELY PREPOSTEROUS." Mr. Wilson said the action taken by the Government was absolutely preposterous, but the board could congratulate itself that it had been prepared to do the best for the men, but the whole thing would have been a great trouble, and 'the board was well rid of it. Mr. Evans said the tone of the General's correspondence was an insult to the board. The Government should give them fair play, lie moved that the whole correspondence should be given to the Press, so that the public might judge for themselves. Mr. J. Stony seconded the motion, and urged that tlie correspondence be also got, into Hansard by some member of Parliament raising the question in the House. He was sure the .'Defence Minister (the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) would desire to be fair to the board. The motion was agreed to. Mr. Sorensen said that if the development was ij, sample of the military wav, then God help the country. Tlie board had assisted tlie department in every way, and this was the return. They had met the General at every point, and had received an insult. RED TAPE AND RED TABS. Mr. Smith said it was a case of "save us from our friends." Red tape was "the vqry devil," but "red tabs" were worse, and since the war they had "red tabs" all over the country. He moved that the board rescind its former decision and now refuse to take-over the control of the sanatorium. At the chairman's suggestiorf Mr. Smith withdrew his motion. It, was unanimously decided that the chairman's report be recrvcd, and that unless the letters of General McGavin and his department are withdrawn, tliat the board enter into no further negotiations.