Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the tenth Australian general hospital arrived here fully equipped with twenty medical officers and seventy-one sisters, and that so far it has been found impossible to utilise their services; if he will state who is responsible for such a state of affairs; and if, out of respect for Australian sentiment, he will see that this specially equipped unit will not be split up, but be employed as a unit?
1628W
§ Mr. TENNANTI have communicated with the High Commissioner for Australia and I am informed that the medical officers and nurses referred to do not constitute the complete staff of a general hospital; that they arrived without equipment; and that they were sent to this country in view of contemplated extensions of accommodation for Australians in the third general hospital and to provide the staff for that purpose. Arrangements are in progress for such extensions, and it is proposed that the services of this staff shall be used in this connection.