SICK & WOUNDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1941, Page 4

SICK & WOUNDED

TREATMENT ON RETURN TO DOMINION

PAYMENT OF HOSPITAL CHARGES. WAIRARAPA BOARD ENTERS PROTEST. A strong protest against the manner in which the Government proposed dealing with the payment of charges to hospital boards for the treatment of sick and wounded returned soldiers was voiced at yesterday’s meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board. It was decided to make representations to the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand with a view to making a concerted protest to the Government. A letter was received from the Health Department, which stated that when soldiers returned to New Zealand from overseas they were automatically discharged 28 days after their return. The payment of 5s per day to hospital boards from the war expenses fund would cease immediately a soldier was discharged. The expenses then became a charge on the boards. Mr H. H. Mawley (chairman) said that it had never been expected that the Government would change its attitude. In 1939 all hospitals had agreed to accept the Government's offer to pay Ils per day. The boards had known that it would cost more to treat the men. but had agreed to the proposal. Mr J. F. Thompson said the matter of paying for the treatment should be a national and not a sectional one. The payment should come from the Consolidated Fund.

Mr F. S. H. Bolton said that the Government was shirking its responsibilities. When soldiers left New Zealand they were cheered and called good fellows, but on their return sick or wounded they were “thrown on the muck heap.” Following a full discussion, it was decided to write to the Health Department in respect to the matter, and to enter a protest to the Hospital Boards’ Association.