WAIKATO SANITORIUM

NZ Truth, Issue 473, 11 July 1914, Page 12

WAIKATO SANITORIUM

« "TnrthY* Strictures Cause Commotion. The Doctor's Alleged Dinner-Party : to Picked Patients. ' Crying Need of anr Inquiry. (Erom - Troth's" Auckland Rep.) "Truth" is * once again m receipt of a communication from the patients of Te Waikato Sanatorium from which it can he gathered that its strictures on the administration of . the institution have caused no end of commotion, and that attempts have teen made to trap individuals ted of conveying inside information to this paper. "The result, however, has been that the traps were, set m m sight of the wise old owls who are laughing up- their sleeves at the attempts made to fasten suspicion on. to them. Naturally this paper could not pretend to criticise the administration of the sanatorium if it were not that information from, patients was avail•able, and it has been on information supplied, backed up by inquiries insti-: elsewhere; that the paper has featured to say what It has said. •'ln the face of- .Truth's" criticism of the administration of this institution it is impossible to see how the holding of some inquiry can be avoided or ' STAVED OFF MUCH LONGER Clearly, an inquiry would be m the best interests . of all concerned — superintendent, matron, staff, and last, but by no means least, the patients themselves. •■-.,' -'■ It is a poor sort of institution which, when criticised, can adopt such methods of setting traps for those suspected of conveying information to the press. . This fact ought to impress itself on the superintendent, who cannot declare that. Truth's" attitude towards him has been a■■ one-sided attitude. - , . ; . Reverting, however, .to the latest news from the Hill, "Truth" now learns that the impression has been created that the superintendent has despaired of ever accustoming himself to colonial ways and that he has spoken of resigning. What truth there is m such a suggestion this paper cannot say. It may be that the superintendent is to be transferred to some other sphere' of usefulness. It is also recorded that Dr. Bernstein, probably to give the He direct to the assertion that he is an individual of unsociable habits, recently, entertained a number of patiepts7to Sunda/ dinner, when chicken, ale, and wine/arid cigars were on tap. It is mentioned to (Truth" that the dinner was of the slap-up variety, and that the* honored patients had the time of their lives. Why there should' be any complaint that the superintendent should entertain at DINNER A NUMBER OF PATIENTS is not clearly explained, unless it be to prove ; that : the order that patients when visiting Cambridge should not enter public- houses is a farcical sort of order, any way. We are also informed s that ; the matron has lately developed a coomess to certain patients, and the other day accused one of being a loafer, because he, was resting after doing some task. The point of the thing •is that it is not so very long' ago that the same patient used to be Invited by the -matron or some of the nursing staff to join In a game of tennis. Also Truth" Is info/mod, and mentions the assertion for what it is worth, that a porter is employed on the premises who is m receipt of ten shillings a month! Is such a statement true? If it Is, then the i

Minister should take steps to remedy such a state of affairs. The Government should not be a payer of less than starvation wages. Another^little matter, to which attention is directed is the statement that the superintendent, or the Government, Is Importing nurses from England to take up their 'duties at the sanatorium? Is this assertion t true? If, it vis, then it hears out a lot of what has been said about this institution. Why cannot a New Zealand nurse be employed at this Institution? If she will not nurse there, then' there must be some reason for it It should Interest, the member for the district and from his place m Parliament he should ask quite a number of questions about the sanatorium. What has he done m the interests of the patients? of 'this institution? Surely he has heard enough about it to warrant the asking of a question or two? The exodus of patients from the place still continues, and it Is estimated that shortly the sanatorium will ( be empty. It is recorded that two nurses .have gone or are going. There must be a reason for these patients and nurses leaving. What is It? Surely "Truthhas said sufficient about this place to indicate that the Minister of Internal Affairs should move In the matter of having an inquiry instituted into the administration past and present of Te Waikato Sanatorium! ,