“CRAVE INJUSTICE”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 20 August 1920, Page 3

“CRAVE INJUSTICE”

CASE OF DID YEATS

A cable message received from London a few day* ago stated that the Loyal College ‘of Surgeons m Ireland, after a careful inquiry into the appeal of Dr, Yeats, expresses the opinion that v a prirna facie case ol grave injustice has been established. .1 he Tollege earnestly requests the New Zealand Government to Hdly and impartially investigate the circumstances. A copy of the report was scut to the High Commissioner. Lord Milner later replied that he had not power to give a ll v direction, the ease being one entirely for the New Zealand Government.

The N.Z. Tunes says that the \eats case has been before the public and Parliament repeatedly, as the result of the endeavour o? Dr. Yeats to obtain an inquiry into his grievances and the general opinion was that he . bad been harshly and unjustly treated by Sir James Allen, the late Minister for Defence. When the war commenced. Dr. Yeats was a , medical practitioner with a good practice in Ba,n hrancisco. and desiring to assist the British cause, he came to New Zealand as the nearest and most convenient place of enlistment. He was sent to Samoa with the first expeditionary force, and after a useful period of service there, et 111 iii' i to Now Zealand in charge of a detachment of invalided soldiers. He brought with him a letter from the principal medical officer saving be had hco". a valuable officer to him. and hoping he would be returned to Samoa Whi'o Dr, Yeats was in Wellington, he oaid a visit to Trcntham Camp, as a result of which lie was moved to a oub’ic protest against the insanitary arrangements there, predicting the outbreak of an epidemic unless proca.rtioH'S were taken at once. As onr readers remember, the outbreak did take place, and many valuable lives were lost. Having given aft-cnee to the military authorities in tins way. Dr. Yeats was pushed out of the forces in some way difficult to

understand, and his discharge was refused on the prepostorious ground hat, lip had never been in the forces, notwithstanding his honourable services at Samoa. Necessarily, the refusal of his discharge prevented him being accepted for service in the Old Omni try. although he proceeded there at his own expense and offered himself. ft was there that he was ar■ested. at the instance of the New Zealand military authorities and prosecuted and fined for wearing a mili-