SOLDIERS' WELFARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16996, 1 November 1918, Page 6

SOLDIERS' WELFARE.

TREATMENT IN HOSPITALS.

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY ALARMED.

OBLIGATIONS OF GOVERNMENT.

The report of the delegation recently appointed to. investigate hospital conditions at Rotorua and Cambridge was considered at a special meeting of the executive of the Auckland Patriotic Association and Joint Committee of the Red Cross Society yesterday. The Mayor Mr. J. 11. Gunson, presided. In outlining the chief points in the report, details of which were given in the Herald yesterday, Mr. Gunson said that with regard to the matter of staffing at Rotorua, when the delegation had been appointed, Sir James Allen had sent a I telegram stating that he was quite willing that tho investigation should be ,a thorough one, and every facility would be afforded the deputation ill its work. Later on, however, ho had practically countermanded these instructions, find had given what were, in effect,-instruc-tions to tho authorities to be courteous and nothing more. Export Referred ,to Government. "It seems to me." said Mr. Gunson, " that this report embodies matters that certainly should not be pigeon-holed. We should Bet our seal upon it, give it our endorsement, and ask for similar endorsement from other centres throughout the Dominion." Ho moved: "That the report bo adopted, that it be printed, and oopies sent both to the centres of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John and to the patriotic societies throughout tho Dominion] also to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Public Health, and other members of the Cabinet, and that the Government be asked to consider tho terms of the report with particular regard to (11 orthopwdio treatment and the extent of nospital accommodation necessary, with due regard to present and future needs: (2) sanatorium and bathhouse conditions j (3J provision of comfortable furnished sittingrooma or readingrooms in hospitals, discontinuing the use of diningrooms for such purpose) (4) that the especial attention of the Government be drawn to the serious position which the report discloses with regard to returned soldiers suffering from tuberculosis; and (a) that It be a recommendation to the Government that the present practice of discharging tubercular patients after a short term of treatment be discontinued, and that returned soldiers suffering from tuberculosis be not early discharged, as at present, but sent to a suitable Stat© farm or institution for a lsrgthy period, with a view to affording a reasonable chance of recovery; (b) that provision be made for the re-examination and treatment of all men previously discharged suffering from tuberculosis. _ At present these men, being quickly discharged, are a menace to the community, and a recurj rence of the disease is in most cases certain. as it is found that the men do not receive treatment—and in some cases it is impossible for them to obtain continued suitable treatment — discharge. ' Typical Oases Quoted.

In speaking to the motion, Mr. Gunson said there was no desiro whatever to hamper the Government in any way. "We wish to assist it wherever possible In its heavy responsibilities .at the present time, hi said, "and this report has not been drawn up in any spirit _of carping criticism, but with a most sincere desiro to help the authorities to improve conditions, and to co-operate witn them to the fullest extent. With regard to the treatment of tubercular soldiers, our experience on the Claims Board entitles us to speak with knowledge of conditions that actually exist." Mr. Gunson gave details of two typical cases, dealt with by the board, one a soldier who had received 15 wounds, and was also affected with consumption. Three months after his return i New Zealand he had been discharged, bull suffering from this disease, and cast upon the community, Another man, simiJarlv afflicted, and also suffering from 1 1 afflicted, ancl also discharged from -shook, had been discharged two months after returning, although a doctor had certified that he was suffering from tuberculosis, and not fit to earn his own living. Such cases amply substantiated the statements made in the report, and showed the same were fully warranted. The report was seconded by Mr. H. Horton, who characterised it is' a most important one, which brought clearly before the people of New Zealand the whole question of the treatment ■of returned men. It should be given fullest publicity, and a copy forwarded to every member of Parliament, as well as to Cabinet Ministers. Mr. N. A, Nathan said that the people of the whole Dominion were. indebted to the delegation far their comprehensive report, which touched upon most urgent and important matters. He would suggest that, in addition to copies being sent to Ministers and members of Parliament, members of the deputation to Wellington, and personally interview tha authorities and impress upon them the importance of the matter.

Question of Responsibility. Mr. C. 'Rhodes said that possibly they would have to overcome difficulties with regard to the opinions of Sir James Allen himself with regard to the erection of certain buildings at the hospitals. The latter had stated. that he considered the erection of buildings such 83 workshops and their maintenance a matter for the patriotic societies. When tho speaker had suggested that the Government should undertake this, Sir James had replied, " I do not agree with you at all." Therefore, the position appeared to be that the Government would not do 'anything unless the other societies absolutely refused to. If Sir James maintained that attitude, said Mr. Rhodes, the only tiling the patriotic societies could do was to say, "Well, if the Government won't do anything, we must." - Mr. C. F. Bickford suggested that possibly the position in regard to work on behalf of the returned men was not clearly defined. He thought that a deputation should approach the Government and have a clear definition as to what tHe Red Cross and patriotic societies were expected to do. Whon they knew what tlier were supposed to do, the money could bo allocated and the work could go ahead. Mr. W. B. Leyland said that the care of the returned soldiers was essentially a national work, and all maimed and wounded men should be looked after by tho Government. Mr. A. G. Lunn expressed the same opinion, remarking that the report sheeted home to the right quarter the responsibility for present conditions. Mr. C. J. Tunkfl drew attention to the fact that, although the Government expected the Red Cross to erect certain buildings, it would not allow them to run the same. This seemed an extraordinary position to take up. The motion was carried unanimously. " SCANDALOUS NEGLECT." MEDICAL OFFICER'S TESTIMONY. Commenting on tho Red Cross Committee's report regarding the treatment of consumptive soldiers, Dr. G. Bniton Sweet, Remuera, writes as follows: The report of the delegate* appointed by tho Rod Cross and Auckland Patriotic Associations is unpleasant reading for the relatives of returned invalided soldiers, and the heading, " Scandalous Failure," to persons unacquainted with the real facts may appear somewhat exaggerated. Unfortunately, such is not the case, and I fully endorse the finding of the delegates, and cannot too strongly condemn the scandalous apathy and neglect of tho Defence Department. When in England, my work was chiefly concerned with the detection and treatment of cases of tuberculosis of the lungs. lAt Oatlands Park 'Hospital, Walton, a | large number of soldiers suffering from this I f

disease passed through my hands. After their diagnosis had been confirmed by a London lung specialist, these cases were medically boarded for return to New Zealand by hospital ship. They were all recommended for sanatorium treatment. On my return to Now Zealand I was astounded to meet some of these men walking about the streets of Auckland and was informed by them that they had been assured that they were cured, or had been told that there were 110 vacancies at tho sanatorium. Every returning hospital ship brings back largo batches of consumptive men, who are allowed to return to their own homes. A considerable proportion of these, owing to insufficient treatment", will probably ultimately die and infect their families with this dread disease. No condemnation of a Government which allows such a stato of affairs to continue is too strong. The remedy is obvious. Open-air sanatoria sufficient to accommodate all returned cases must be provided without dolay, and provision must also be made for men who have already been discharged from tho army for lung complaints. A consumption camp could be established and cases drafted there immediately on arrival, pending tho construction of more permanent accommodation. Parliament is now sitting, and I trust that this matter will be thoroughly ventilated by our legislators, and that the totally inadequate treatment that the returned tuberculous soldier has received in the past will bo speedily remedied. " Wounded " writes As a returned officer, with a knowledge of the unstinted hospitality tendered to New Zealand soldiers in England and France, both socially and in connection with hospital and convalescent treatment, and the elaborate arrangements made for their comfort during such time, it seems deplorable to me that such a condition of affairs as tlioso prevailing at Rotorua should be allowed to exist, and I understand that British officers have been invited to participate in, and have accepted, the treatment that 'tie unique advantages of Rotorua allows. Surely, what Nature has provided could be supplemented by ft community which has so much to thank tho Mother Country for in the treatment meted out to their eons by the openhearted and open-handed welcomes given by the British peoples to their colonial oouslns of all ranks, even if our New Zea-land-born are not considered worthy of anything but bare necessities, and aomo effort, at least, made to prove to our visitors from overseas that we value them and their services, equally with their concrete recognition of our own. A very warm-hearted sympathy has been created between our noldiers and the people of tho Homeland, and It does not appear to me to be a wise policy on the part of our administrators that the boys who have proved their patriotism to New Zealand should be given an opportunity of drawing adverse comparisons between the treatment meted out b- strangers, who in many cases can ill afford hospitality, and that served out by those from whom nothing but the bust should be expected. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. ) STATEMENT BY MINISTER. FULL REPORT FROM OFFICERS. [BY telegraph.—special correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Thursday. The report by the delegation from the Auckland Patriotic Association and Red Cross Society in regard to Te Waikato and othersanatoria were referred to the Minister for Defence to-day. Sir James Allen said he was securing , a full report upon the subject from the Departmental officers, so that at present he was not in a position to make statement* "I am quite sure, bowevar," ho said, "that the state* ment that 700 or 800 returned men have suffered from tuberculosis, although it is correct, is apt to give the public a false impression. Most of these men have so improved as a result of the voyage out that it has been safe to allow them to go when they have reached here. "In regard to the new sanatorium to be erected near Waipukuran, it is not fair for the delegation to say that it is not yet commenced, and that it will not bo completed for nine or ten months. As a mattor of fact, the contract has bean let, and although I cannot say so definitely, much of the timber is possibly already on the grouhd. The contract provides that it is to be completed in six months." Sir James Allen added Chat Te Waikato was not the only place for the treatment of consumptive patients, for many were being dealt with at Cashmere and Pleasant Valley in the South Island. Dealing generally with the question, tho Minister said that personally he was in favour of treating the men permanently affected in annexes to hospitals in their own home towns so that they could bo near their relatives. The Department had under consideration a proposal to establish a building in which tuberculosis patients, upon arrival could be kept under observation for some time before they vjero sent to a sanatorium. '