THE PUKEROA SANATORIUM

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15978, 21 November 1919, Page 5

THE PUKEROA SANATORIUM

THE R.S.A.’S CHARGES. REPORT ON THE INSTITUTION. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November I>l. A report has been received by the Defence Minister from Brigadier-Gene-ral McGavlne on the complaints made by the Returned Soldiers’ Association regarding the military sanatorium at Pukeroa. The statement that the sanatorium’s cost was £60,000 is, says General McGavin, a gross exaggeration. 1 Thte total cost, including shelter’s, land, machinery, electric lighting, and laundry will be £35,867. Tire personnel of the attendants is composed chiefly of returned soldiers. Many of these have proved unsatisfactory, and have been discharged. More suitable men are enlisted as they become available. The female staff will be increased. The institution was quite ready in all essentials before the patients were placed therein. The patients with only two exceptions, arc happy and contented, and all except one stated that they had no complaint to make. The one stated that he disliked boiled mutton, but admitted that alternative dishes were provided. A still wider field of affection is being arranged for. Notices are posted in the sanatorium that any patient having a complaint to make will do so to •Vac officer in charge* The officer in charge asserts that ho bad not heard of many complaints before reading the reports in the papers. The method adopted by the patients of reporting through a complaints committee to the R.S.A is not only devious, cumbrous, and wasteful of time, but causes quite unnecessary annoyance and discontent to the staff, rendering smooth working of the institution difficult.