RETURNED SOLDIERS CONFER

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS CONFER

SHELL-SHOCK CASES. SPECIAL HOSPITAL WANTED. TREATMENT OF INSANITY. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association conference was continued yesterday afternoon and to-day in the City Council Chamber. The Medical Committee brought down a. report in which it commended the recent transfer of mc. , , under treatment from the control of the Health Department to that of the Defence Department, and recommended that all patients should remain under such control till cured. It also suggested that each hospital should be provided with a resident sergeant-major (a returned soldier) for disciplinary purposes. THE DRINK PROBLEM. "We have reviewed with great regret," the report proceeded. " the ravages that alcoholism is making among returned soldiers. Particularly is this so in the case of shell-shock and neurasthenic cases, realising, as we do, that to such ••uses alcohol in excess ie the sheerest poison to a nervous system already badly shaken. In general ire feel that the trouble begins very early on the return of the soldier, and in" this connection we feel that the action of the military authorities in Auckland, in declaring all bars and publichouses out of bounds for returning men to have been most wise. The committee recomended that the anti-shouting regulations be (strictly enforced in respect to men in uniform," that the distinctive blue uniform for men under treatment be made universal, that anyone supplying liquor to men in such uniform be rigorously dealt, with, and that some definite scheme be formulated by the Defence Department for placing under control returned soldiers |di* charged or not), who allowed signs of becoming addicted to liquor, in order that they might be given a chance to find their feet and regain their lost willpower. The report was laid on the table, and discussion upon it was deferred. Speaking to the motion that the report lie on the table. Mr. '-• I'- Andrews. secretary of the Auckland Association, expressed tile opinion that on the arrival of troopships hotels should be closed entirely— to civilians as well as soldiers—for "the sake of fairness to the lntter. and also to prevent the drunkenness which the declaring of hotels out of bounds failed to prevent. c .

-Mr. Andrews went on to say that he paid fortnightly visits to the' Auckland Mental Hospital, where there were a number of returned men. Most of these felt their position very keenly, and they had asked him to bring their'oase before the Conference. They felt that if they "ere discharged and" had children, the latter would be under a stigma. They hoped that the fiovernment would provide a special institution for them, and personally he felt sun; that the people of the Dominion, if made aware of the position, would willingly agree to the expenditure. The Chairman remarked that no purely neurasthenic or shell-shock cases were being sent to mental hospitals. SPECIAL TREATMENT. Tlic following resolution, put forward by the committee as a most urgent matter, was carried unanimously:—''That thU conference is of opinion that all cases of war injuries and disabilities should not be discharged until cured: and furthermore, that in the case of shell-shock and neurasthenic eases an institution of a special nature to deal only with such cates, and having facilities' for proper massage and electrical treatment, be established without delay, and under such conditions as well make access to liquor impossible." MENTAL CASES. Mr. J. I. Fox (Wellington) moved: — -That the Government be recommended to place all returned soldiers Buffering from lunacy in a special mental institution." Several speakers expressed approval of the proposal on the ground that the men under treatment in mental hospitals felt their position, but a number more opposed it on practical grounds connected with the shortage of doctor* file difficulty of classifying patients in a small institution. An amendment moved by (J. L. Robertson ( Invercargill ) expressing satisfaction with the present accommodation for and treatment of sulflier mental pationti. was carried, the Auckland delegates and some others askir.g that their opposition be recorded. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. C. W. Ratten (Wellington) that the ')(•■ fence Department be asked to send an officer of a mental hospital aboard al! vessels bringing mental patients for She purpose of relieving the medical officers the duty of deciding on the treatment to be given such men. MUFTI ALLOWANCE.

The question of mufti allowance proyoked a long discission, and eventually it was resolved to recommend to the Government that the allowance be raided from 30/ to CI 5/. and that each man be allowed to retain one uniform, without the greatcoat. The secretary (Mr. D. Seymour) stated in the course* of the discussion that the authorities were desirous of getting control of all superfluous uniforms, in order to prevent un.Tuthoi-i.70il persons from wearing , them.

THE INFORMATION DEPARTMENT.

The result*: achieved by the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department were discussed at some length, following a complaint l.y a Clirutcliurcu delegate that the Department in his city wa-s not working with much .success, and that nearly all the work was being done by the local branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, the Department claiming credit for the results. Other delegates expressed the opinion that secretaries of branches, being returned men. were better able than others to meet t'ne needs of their comrades, and that the public undoubtedly looked to the Association, not to the Department, in the matter. In reference to a proposal that the liovernnicnt he asked to hand over the work to tiio Association, it was

ouiruestcd that a start might be made with the large centrei-". where paid secretaries were employed. Speakers also took r-trun™ exception to the employment of uniformed policemeu by the Department to inquire as to the circumstances of returned men.

It was rasolved: "'That the proposed Repatriation Department should create special employment bureaus, and that local Returned Soldiers' Associations should do the work, the necessary remuneration being provided by the Government."