MINISTER OF MINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 June 1921, Page 2

MINISTER OF MINES

ARRIVAL IN GREYMOUTH:

THE PHELAN CASE.

The Minister of Mines (Hon. G. J. Anderson), accompanied by Messrs A. H. Kimbell (Under-Secretary of the Mines Department), and F. M. Sherwood (private secretary), arrived in Greymouth by the Otira express on Thursday evening. They were welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. J. D. Lynch) and members of local bodies, and escorted to Revington’s Hotel. Mr. T. E. I'. Seddon, M.P., also arrived and proceeded to the Ablion Hotel. The party had a pleasant trip over the Ranges.

At eight o'clock, the Minister received the President and Secretary of the Greymouth R.S.A. (Messrs K. Skoglund and H. Trouland), accompanied by the Hon. J. Grimmond, M.L.C., Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., and Mr J I). Lynch (Chairman of the Greymouth Patriotic Association.) The deputation was introduced by Air. Seddon, who explained that the object was to bring to the Minister's notice the case of a returned soldier named Phelan. He hoped Air. Anderson would represent the matter to his colleague, the Minister in Charge of Military Pensions, so that the right thitig would be. done by Phelan. He called on Air. Skoglund to place the details of the case before the Minister. Air. Skoglund then outlined the particulars of the case, as previously published. Phelan, he said, was slightly fieble-minded before he was taken by lhe Defence Department and setd to the front. He served for over twelve months with the Tunnelling Corps. Since his return to New Zealand he had been roaming about, and had finally reached the Royal Hotel where he now was lying helpless. His case had been brought before the R.S.A.- by Air. McFarlane, and they had investigated, it; but no satisfaction had been obtained from the Defence Department. ”1 think, said Air. Skoglund, “that the Department has a moral responsibility. If Phelan s condition has not been brought about by the war, why did the Department grant a pension in the first place? Air. Anderson asked what, was the matter with Phelan.

Mr. Skoglund said he would like Messrs Anderson and Seddon to see him. Two Greyn outh doctors said he should be taken charge of im-

mediately, and placed in a “half-way house.”

The Ministir: “Then it is really a mental case.”

Mr. Trouland stated that Phelan had applied for a renewal of his pension, and this had been recommended by a Greymouth doctor on the grounds of feeble mindedness, as in the case of the original pension. The l doctor said the trouble was hereditary. It was not due originally to war service, but might have been aggravated by the war. They wanted to sec the man placed in an institution. The case called for a “half-way house. The Minister said the point of the matter was that no disability a person had before joining the army could be taken into consideration for a pension. They were asking for a pension in the telegrams read. Mr. Skoglund: “We are asking fol treatment recommended by two doctors.”

Mr. Trouland slated that if the man ■were taken into a civil asylum he would lose all pension. The Minister said he did not think there was any chance of Phelan getting a pension. The only arbiter of the question was the Pensions Board ; no one else had power. The Pensions Board had decided that Phelan’s trouble was not aggravated by war service. However, he would wire immediately to the Minister of Defence, and urge that the man be taken into some institution. Mr. Lynch, as chairman of the local Patriotic Association, said that the Association had granted some assistance. Phelan belonged to the Beefton district. It was the rule that when an Association made a payment to a soldier from another district, the said district were liable for the amount. The Reefton funds were exhausted. Some allusions had been made, said Mr. Lynch, to the £6OOO held by the Grey Association, but they had theii own men to look after, and x could not make payments indiscriminately. In Phelan’s case, a pension was not wanted so much; they desired that the man should be taken care of. The Minister said he thought that the man should bo taken in charge and looked after, and he would wire his colleague to that effect. Mr. Skoglund a/;ain said he would like the Minister to see Phelan personally, to which Mr. Anderson replied that his opinion was not much good. The opinion of medical experts was Mr. Seddon suggested that the local R B.A. delegate to the Dunedin Conference on June 6th should be instructed to follow up ti e case and endeavour to establish a precedent, as there were no doubt similar cases in New Zealand. , , , . , The Minister said the whole troubl seemed to be that the man was feebleminded before he.joined up. A nvfltake had no doubt been made in accepting him for service Phelan had been gassed and it would heJiai to say how much that had affected hU Mr. Trouland outlined Phelan’s actions since he came to the Coast, he was clearly not responsible for what he did. , , ... The Minister assured the deputation that he would do all he could to assist them, and would wire to the Minister of Defence, urging him to take action with the object of having Phelan taken care of. He would communicate the reply to them when it arrived. Mr. Anderson and party later attended the Old Boys’ Association ball in the Town Hall. After being introduced to the committee, the Minister joined heartily in the dancing, and an enjoyable time was spent. They left for Hokitika, bj the special train yesterday morning. Mr. Anderson and party will return to Greymouth from Hokitika th.'? evening. To-morrow afternoon at three o’clock, the Minister will participate in the unveiling of the Hall Coulthard Memorial’at Runanga. He will have a busy day on Monday. Leaving Greymouth by the 7.20 a.m. train, the party will proceed to Rewanui. Runanga will aFo be visited, and the James mine inspected. Lunch will bo

taken at Greynouth.; in the afternoon the Dobson and Brunner mines will bo inspected. On Monday -evening deputations will be heard at the Towr Hall. On Tuesday the Minister and pfa’ty will leave Greymouth, en route to Blackball, Waiuta and Reefton. They will proceed io Mestport on Wednesday.