THE HANMER TROUBLE.

West Coast Times, 7 February 1916, Page 4

THE HANMER TROUBLE.

STATEMENT BY DEFEKCT HEADQU AT! TEES

WiEDLIXOTON, February 4

Allegations having been made that soldiers ft'conlly discharged from Hanmer Springs have been harshly dealt with, i.e,, deprived of all their warwon privileges, because they disobeyed an order to remain within doors after C..30 o’clock at night, Defence Headquarters makes the following statement:—

As to the nature of the ‘‘punishment” imposed, all that happened was that, as men In the Convalescent Hospital at JTanmer had not been behaving themselves, it was decided to bring the whole of them before the Medical Board to determine how they should bo dealt with from a medical point of view. The Medical Hoard, having examined them, it was found that three of the men were fit to resume duty, and they were sent to Trentham to join the Reinforcements. Eight meit who were not fit for duty or discharge into civil life, were sent to the Christchurch Hospital for treatment. Eighteen men were recommended for discharge and return to civil occupation, being considered unfit for service aboard. One •nan was kept at TTanmer. The whole of the other 2!) men (already specified) were either sent to, nr given free

onsses, for their respective destinations. Defence Headquarters staled that none of the 29 men referred to had been deprived of any privileges. The question whether the 18 men recommended for discharge would receive three weeks’ leave and free railway passes remained to be determined. This would only he decided on receipt of i. report, on the men's conduct from Christchurch. These men suffered no more than b“ing placed before a Medi--al Board a little earlier than was intended. This was done for the. solo reason that they were proving unruly, nr were, acting a manner prejudicing their recovery. Any rights they had under the Tensions Act still existed, and the same applied to their pay, which they would receive in the ordinary- way.

Headquarters adds:—“lt was essential that discipline should he maintained among the convalescent soldiers for their own sake as well as for the sake of the country and of those dealing wi th them. The. officer in charge of the men at Hanmer was a tried and capable officer, in The person of, Lieut.Colonel Loach, late Officer Commanding the Canterbury Battalion, who was himself wounded at Gallipoli.”