SOLDIER PATIENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 19 June 1925, Page 9

SOLDIER PATIENTS.

IN MENTAL HOSPITALS. By Telegraph—Press Association, DUNEDIN, June 18. At the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Conference to-day, the greater amount of time during the afternoon was occupied in hearing written charges made by Colonel T. W. McDonald, in connection with soldier mental patients. The matter was dealt with privately. After hearing the report and lengthy discussion, it was decided that this Council having considered the report of the standing sub-com-mittee upon the charges made by Colonel McDonald, in connection with the commitment of returned soldiers to mental hospitals, finds as follows: Charge 1: That from 1916 to 1919 certain soldiers were Illegally detained in mental hospitals for varying periods in contravention of the provisions of the Mental Defectives Act. The finding-is that that charge is proved. Charge 2: That when representations were made to the Government on the above subject Ministers misrepresented the position to the Returned Soldiers’ Association and to Parliament. The finding is that certain statements made by Ministers as above were substantially incorrect. Charge 3: That when a commission was set up by the Government to inquire into the complaint of , a certain soldier that he bad been illegally detained as aforesaid, the Commissioner exonerated the officials who were responsible for the wrong done to the man, and stigmatised complainant as suffering from a form of mental disorder. The finding is that this Council does not find any reason to impugn the bona fides of the Commissioner, but it is satisfied that the whole of the facts were not before the Commissioner, and that the officials concerned took their original action, although illegal, believing such action to be in the best interest of the soldier concerned.