THE ROYAL COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9092, 10 July 1915, Page 9

THE ROYAL COMMISSION

NEWS OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED.

Sir Joseph Ward asked the Government, in connection with the forthcommg sittings of the Royai Commission, vyhich is to inquire into the causes of sickness amongst soldiers, whether it was, prepared to provide legal representation lor the parents of soldiers apart from tho Government’s own counsel. Mr Massey said that it had not yet been decided that the Government should have legal representation before the commission. He would go into the matter with the Attorney-General, m whoso hands lay such arrangements This, however, he would promise right away, that if parents wished to have legal representation they would be put to no expense in the matter. ... Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) asked if the Government would arrange for information to be sent to the parents of sick soldiers as soon as they were admitted into the hospital. Mr Allen: "It has been arranged.’ Mr Russell: "I regret to state that my information does not bear out that statement." Mr Allen: "It was not in the earlier stages." • . . Mr Russell proceeded to give details of a case of which ho had just been informed. The case referred to was that of B. Smith, of linwood. This soldier had been removed from tho camp to Koiwarra on June 16th. and two days later he was taken to the Wellington Hospital. The first information hjs parents had of his illness was when a

soldier friend of their son called at their homo and told them that ho was ill and in hospital- Tho following day, Monday, they telegraphed to the hospital. and Dr -Barclay replied that the boy had been , removed from tho hospital on Sunday- His parents and a brother aud sister cam© up to Wellington, but Dr Barclay could not say whether tho boy had been taken to Kaiwarra or to tho camp. His removal had been, ordered by the camp medical officer. Dr Henderson. The hospital authorities had no control over patients from tho camp. They were visited twice a day by the camp medical officers, but tho hospital doctors wore never called in except in cases of emergency. When tho mother finally .saw her- boy ho was on the brink of death, and she could get just one glance of recognition bclore ho expired. If that kind of thing was going on it was absolutely cruel. It oould not be going on with _ th© consent of the Ministers. Ho wished to know whether tho Government would give instructions to someone to notify parents at once when men were taken into hospital. , Hon. B. H. Rhodes expressed regret that such a case should have been recorded. He did not know where the lapse of duty had occurred. The first thing he did on taking over tho control of military hospitals on June 23rd-was to give instructions that relatives* of sick men must bo notified. Dr Valintino had included a similar direction in the regulations. Ho would make inquiries into the case just ei-VM- , Mr C H. Pcolo (Auckland West) read a newspaper account of a similar case, that of William Harris, of Ponsonby a lad of l"i years of age, but very big and healthy, who died before his parents had a chance to see him. only five weeks after he entered the camp. Mr Poolo again called attention to tho difficulty experienced by members of the Legislature in getting information iloin Trentham with regard to sick men. The hi-tnation iwlas oanidng 'grave anxiety throughout tho country. Surely something pinst be happening which was not known to the Cabinet. Mr A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South); "Th© Minister should resign.’ Mr John Payne (Grey Lynn): ihe country ie crying out for it. It won t stand this any longer.” , Mr Rhodes; "I have nothing to. say except that I shall institute inquiries into these oases."