TWO BROKEN ELBOWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14984, 11 August 1919, Page 6

TWO BROKEN ELBOWS.

EX-PRIVATE'S COMPLAINT.

The. Auckland Star . states : A Press 'Association telegram from Whakatane stated that a sensational case, m which it was alleged that a soldier who had broken both arms was left m camp to for himself a whole , month un'bandaged, refused a pension, undoctorAd and' unnursed, came before the Returned Soldiers' Association there on Monday night and was referred to the Auckland Association. Further particulars received by mail show that the exsoldier was Private Malcolm McCready, of the Ninth Reinforcements, and his story is a, remarkable one. He states that both of his elbows are broken, and than his injuries were sustained while he was 011 guard at the wireless station between Kaitaia. and Awanui, m the North. He played m. a "patriotic" football match, and, when running with the ball, fell, a mob of fellows coming down on top of him. A doctor who examined his arms said they were too seriously injured for him to do anything, and gave him a letter to the authorities m Auckland. A month elapsed before lje arrived m Auckland, and m the meantime his arms were useless.. He interviewed several doctors and an X i % ay examination was made at the hospital. He then got into communication with the Defence Department and. was sent to work m the bakery at Featherston, but his arms gave way and he was sent out of camp "on leave without pay," He has, he states, applied for a pension, but has been granted nothing, and ' is doing building work at . full pay, though he finds the work very hard and the foreman admits that though he is very clumsy hp is doing his best. The matter is evidently one for inquiry, and as it lias been referred to the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association it .will no doubt be fully investigated.