DR THACKER'S COMPLAINTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 9256, 25 January 1916, Page 7

DR THACKER'S COMPLAINTS

MINISTERS WILL MAKE IE

QDIRIES

The complaints made by Dr H. I. J. Thacker. M.P.. at Auckland ro-‘ garding the treatment of returned soldiers wore mentioned yesterday by the JWfence'Minister (Hon. J. Allen). Thp Minister said that ho was having the complaints investigated wherever they touched the administration of his department, and he thought the alleged grievances would be found ■nip/ible of explanation. /.‘.'fro Sira always quite ready to ahsWer any legitimate criticism,” said Mr' Aden, ..“and quite prepared to rectify any mistakes, if it is discovered that mistakes have been made, and in such a huge undertaking as this it is possible that some errors may occur. ”■ We can deal with them when wo get individual cases referred to. Dr Thacker has given us individual cases, and every one of them will bo thoroughly inquired into and reported upon to me—that is, so far as tho complaints concern the Defence, Department. Those cases which concern the Health Department will no doubt receive-' the same attention. Xam having the Defence cases examined into at the present moment, and I have no doubt the Hon, the Minister for PubJi&yHealth %■ having lus complaints iiwilotly taken up. P; wi Wo- have jssued a returned soldiers’ -handbook, and we have asked Wdiersj whefd ' thpy have any gnev“ificthCrfe represent them to the propef■'ohartora... We have told them to go - either' tO rthe Base Records Office, Brandon street, or to the Q.M.U.. Branch on matters concerning then, pay.’ And the object of the Defence Dgpaftmont is to get the work cleared up as soon as' posisblo. W e dent want to withhold soldiers’ pay, ana tho public will readily understand we don’t do so. But we cannot settle up the different accounts until wo get the mod's books and have all the necessary papers. There may bo fines recorded - against a man, for instance. Casee iliavo occurred where .men nave been over-paid, and we do not want to-be asking for rotunds.” 'The Minister referred to the - part tha pattidtio -*scioties could p(ay„ and were playing in assisting discharged soldiers. He said that some societies, particularly - the Canterbury Society, wera doing very good Work. Ho could Apeiko spwiftcally of the. Canterbury Society j'-because -it was sending him details' regularly of its work, giving the cases, assisted and. tho help it proposed .to -give,,. No doubt other bodies were doing similar good work.