SICK AND WOUNDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1941, Page 4

SICK AND WOUNDED

TREATMENT IN HOSPITAL SHOULD BE CHARGE ON WAR EXPENSES FUND. WAIRARAPA LOCAL BODIES ENTER. PROTEST. Full support of representations which 1 had been made to the Government by ' the Municipal and Counties’ Associa- ' tions of New Zealand urging that the hospital care of sick and wounded 1 5 returned men should be a charge on * the War Expenses Fund was given at' * a meeting of Wairarapa local body ‘ representatives in Masterton last night. ‘ Eight boroughs and seven counties and the Wairarapa R.S.A. were represented. -J Mr Jordan said that representations J had been made to the Government by 1 the Counties and the Municipal Associations of New Zealand that the Gov- c

ernment’s responsibility for the hospital care of returned men should be a charge on the War Expenses Fund. The Minister of Health had replied to the effect that the Government would pay something additional to the 6s paid out of the Social Security funds to hospital boards. “On inquiry in J Masterton I found from the secretary of the Wairarapa Hospital Board that the ‘something additional’ was 5s a day, making a total contribution of Ils a day,” said Mr Jordan. “I also asked how much it cost the hospital for each man and was told it cost £1 a day. The balance of 9s is left to the hospital boards to collect from the ratepayers, less the Government subsidy.” Mr Jordan produced a text book sent out from Army Headquarters, Wellington, in which it was stated that hospital care of sick and wounded men was provided free by the State. He had written to the Minister on April 22 and received a reply which was not dated, saying that the matter was under consideration. “Are they going to treat the soldiers like that right through?” asked Mr A. Forsberg. “It’s not the soldier; it’s the ratepayer,” said Mr C. T. Richardson. Mr Jordan: “It’s not fair.” Mr Richardson: “It’s on a par with many other things.” Mr Taverner suggested that a strong protest should be made to the Government. “We should demand that the State should pay its contribution,” said Mr S. K. Siddells. “The more publicity given the matter the better,” said Mr R. E. Gordon Lee. It certainly affects the parents of soldiers,” said Mr Forsberg. It was decided to support and endorse the representations made to the Government by the Municipal and Counties’ Associations.