“SOCIAL OUTCASTS.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18463, 26 January 1922, Page 8

“SOCIAL OUTCASTS.”

T.B, SOLDIER PATIENTS. COMPLAINTS REGARDING TREATMENT. (Feom Ovr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 25. . Under the heading “ Social Outcasts,” the New Zealand Times to-day gave prominence to the report of a meeting of T.B. returned soldiers, held last night, regarding th© treatment of service patients at the Pukeora Sanatorium. One of the speakers stated that tho conditions were ” simply rotten,” that tho food had decreased in quantity, quality, and condition, that the cooking was bad, and that the men had to do-fatigue duties, such as peeling potatoes. One speaker said they were social outcasts, and no one outside wanted to have anything to do,, with them. It was suggested that £50,000 of. tho canteen funds should be earmarked at a small rate of interest to enable T.B. men to got houses. In tho House of Representatives to-day, Mr M’Combs drew the attention of the Minister of Defence to the report. He asked if he would make representations to tho Minister of Public" Health in regard to these matters. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes explained that ho had answered the question two or throe days ago in the House. He had not road the, article. At a later stage Mr M’Combs drew the attention of the Minister of Health to the article. The Hon. C. J. Parr said that since these men were taken over from the Defence Department by the Health Department he was anxious that everything possible should be done for them, and ho was having inquiries made. One statement—that about fatigue duties—he was assured was absolutely incorrect. Colonel Wylie, who had charge of one of the largest soldier hospitals in England, was in charge of the sanatorium, and he was certain tne Health Department would carry on as efficiently fop these men as before tho departmental amalgamations.