OLD PEOPLES' HOME.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13474, 20 May 1907, Page 7

OLD PEOPLES' HOME.

CHARGES AGAINST MR FARRAR. A THOROUGH VINDICATION:^ At this morning's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Dr. T. H. A. Valintine presented a report on his investigations into the ' charges against the custodian, Mr A. E. Farrar, of maltreating an inmate named Turner. The report was as follows :—: — Wellington, May 16, 1907. Sir, — In further reference to the complaints made against the custodian of the Old Men's Home, I herewith submit a few remarks together with copies of the evidence collected. I visited the Home on May 6th. On the men being assembled I asked each man in turn if he had any complaint to make about the management of the Home. Seven inmates stated that they had complaints to, make, one inmate about his personal treatment, five about the /treatment of helpless inmates, and two complaints were lodged about the- hardness of the food. I then proceeded to examine each complainant privately, and . also some | other inmates of the institution. The signed complaints or statements' of the above are attached hereto. - I also visited the female inmates. They had no complaints to make. On 7 conclusion of my inquiry I had the men re-assembled, and asked if any man would like .to leave the Home. Not one inmate -signified that suoh was his wish — in fact, many expressions were made to the contrary.' '" In the presence of the chairman, secretary, and custodian I then addressed .the 'men -in the ;terms of the conclusions | I had come to concerning the complaints. . The alleged assault on Turner; was suppose^ to have' been committed in August " last. , .No complaint j however, was made to the chairman or secretary until February; though one or the other are constantly Visiting the Home.' In fact no complaint was made until the custodian was absent on sick leave. ; On ' consideration of the statements made by the inmates, the housemaid, and those contained in the Press cuttings of the recent assault case* I have come, to the conclusion that fthe whole affair was a 5a 5 "deliberate and clumsy conspiracy, oil the paTt of certain interested persons against the present custodian. Had there been one. tittle,. of .reliable evidsn*£> in'.«upport,.9t.t.he^Gharges I would have considered it necessary. to take further proceedings. I have only, then, to state that the inquiry /ully shows that the good opinion in which Mr Farrar has been held by v your Board, medical staff,, and "by my predecessor is thoroughly^ justified^ and • L ani sure, we all regret that such charges have been laid against a zealous, capable, and humane servant of the institution. I quite endorse the action of your Board in dismissing the Ikvel assistant custodian.- l ■ '"■ I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, T. H. A. VALINTINE, Inspector-General. A report of the evidence taken by Dr. Valintine . was appended. .Tip BOARD'S VIEWS. - After tlie; secretary had read the re- ! port, Dr.' Valintine said he was empliaTncallyr'of^fe^^opinion.that the attack! mi^riFirfis^-'Sras a clumsy conspiracy ; on the part of some interested people. Mr Tisch agreed. It would bo hard to find theequal'of Mr Farrar. Ho had done excellent work in improving the disciplino and in cultivating the grounds. He had always considered economy. He (the chairman) congratu- i lated the Board on having so efficient an officer. Dr. Valintine said Mr Farrar's work j had always' been favourably commented on by his predecessor, Dr. MacGregpr, and that; Mr Farrar had been .regarded as one of the best custodians of such institutions in the colony. Other memben concurred in the eulogy of Mr Farrar. *Mr Tisch asked Dr. Valintine if toe patient Turner who had caused a good deal of the ; trouble 'could bo committed J to an incurable home. j Dr. Valintine replied in the negative. Such cases presented a difficulty. They were not suitable-- for treatment in an old men's liome. What was really need- \ ed was a central home for incurables to which such cases could be admitted, jpalmerston 'North would be a suitable centre for a home for the Taranaki, j Wellington and East Coast districts. ' As an instance of the unsuitability of the present provision for such cases, he spoke of a cancer patient at Auckland who had been refused admission 'to the hospital,, the disease, being ,wrongly regarded, as infectious. The man was taken to an isolated cottage where he (Dr. Valintine) visited him. The poor fellow's jaw was eaten away with the cancer, and ,the- growth might at any moment have eaten into a blood vessel. The "tian^was lying there with the discharge from the wound about him. Food was brought to him once a day. He (Dr. Valintine) had had the patient removed to a tent in the hospital grounds. Such cases required careful attention. A central home for incurables was needed for such patients. , Mr Tisch- asked whether it was not' possible to secure the ,admission of Turner to some home for incurables by paying for his treatment. On the motion of Mr Burgess, seconded by Mr Brown, a resolution in favour of the establishment -of -a central home for incurables, as suggested by Dr. Valintine, was carried unanimously. Dr. Valintine promised to see if Turner could be admitted to the Home of Compassion in Buckle Street, Wellington. A vote of thanks was returned to Dr. Valintine for ' the promptness with which he had taken up the investiga-

tion of the affairs of the Old People's Home. The Board also passed a resolution of congratulation to Mr Farrar and confidence in his ability. The Chairman also mo\ r ed that, if it were legal, the Board should I vote £0 toward Mz c Farrar's Court expenses. He did not think it was right that Mr Farrar should pay the whole of the expenses because .the attack was largely on the management as a whole. If no vote could be granted, he would willingly put his hand in his pocket to holp Mr Farrar.

Mr Burgess seconded. He thought the Board should pay the whole of Mr Farrar's expenses.

The Chairman said the vote would be legal. The motion was carried unanimously. ' -