"SOCIAL OUTCASTS."

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1922, Page 5

"SOCIAL OUTCASTS."

"T. 8." SOLDIERS COMPLAIN

ALLEGED UNFAVOURABLE CON

DITIONS

WELLINGTON, This Day

In strong terms a number of tiller cular returned soldiers, at a special meeting, expressed themselves on the treatment meted out to service patients at the Pukeora Sanatorium..

"The existing conditions," said one speaker, "are simply rotton." He said that since the Public Health Department took over the sanatorium, on November 1, the food had decreased iu quantity, quality, and condition. r l>ie cooking was bad, and the privileges of service men had been considerably restricted. The men had sought to have the matter rectified, but as soon as the Health Department took over, the service men were ordered to peel potatoes, etc., contrary to the agreement between the Health Deparment and thi Defence Department. Dissatisfied, tho men had further intervie,we<l heads of the departments. However, nothing had yet been done, and the privl'oges h 'herto enjojfd h&d bM'i curtsilcd. For instance, smoking was considerably reduced, and the men were not permitted to visit other bed patients. The food which was supposed to be hot was more often cold. A new ward had been built, but was occupied by civilian patients numbering 24. "There is going to be a grint deal ot trouble if things are not sion bettc-r----i ed. . • • We have made our objections, and with justification. We, are simply 'social outcasts,' m' l 110 0110 outside wants to have anything to do with us." ' It was decided "that the Returned Soldiers' Association be asked to communicate with the Health Department asking them to fulfil their written promise that no privileges or treatment tubercular returned men be curtailed. A good deal was said in regard to the present system employed in the examination of "T. 8." men. It was pointed out by different speakers that, m order that the best were done for the T.B. man, it was desired that the same doetor who .examined the man in the first instance should re-examine him when the time came to revise the pension. It was held that all T.B. patients should bo given a railway warrant to the place where the same medical officer was stationed. Criticism was levelled against certain so-called "specialists," . who •kere described as "purely maternity dcctors." In some instances a medical man examined a soldier and forwarded the papers relating to the case to another medical officer who, being totally unfamiliar with the case, was expected to treat the man satisfactorily or "on

p-.per," so to speak. After considerable discussion, a motion was unanimously carried to the effect "That all T.B. soldier P^* 1 * should be re-examined by a ' special-I,' preferably by the same doctor who examined the man i;i the sanatorium."

The question of how the "T. 8." man faros under the Discharged Soldier?' Settlement Act in regard to obtaining houses was vigorously discussed at the

meeting,

It was explained that people were reluctant. to let their houses to men whom 1 ] M >y had ascertained to be tubercular. A speaker mentioned the fact that at the present time there were canteen funds lying idle in the country aggregating the sum of £80,000. After some discussion it was moved: "That the meeting considers that the £90.000 be ph'.' ! 'd at the disposal of disabled soldiers, and that the sum of £30, 000 be earmarked for 'T.B.' men at a small rate of interest."