MEMBER'S STRANGE CONDUCT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2509, 9 July 1915, Page 6

MEMBER'S STRANGE CONDUCT

ON THE HOSPITAL SHIP

PILLOWS AND MATTRESSES

CUT OPEN

Tho New _ Zealand Hospital Ship Maheno was 'nspected yesterday morning by members of Parliament, and during their visit an incident occurred which was the subject, of a discussion in the House of Representatives : during the afternoon.

Tho matter was brought up by Mr. J. 0. Young (Waikato), who asked the Prime Minister whether he had any knowledge of, ;and whether there was any truth in, a report that during.the visit 'of to tho Hospital Ship a member of Parliament cut open a portion of the bedding with a-knife? He considered the report to bo a grave reflection upon every member of the ilouso.

. Mr. Massey: I have no knowledge of tlio truth or otherwise of the statement. I can only express tho hope that no member of Parliameitt lias-so far forgotten himself when visiting tho ship as to damage any part of tho equipment. Sir Joseph Ward said that the Houso should bo told by the member for Waikato the name of tho member to whom he. was referring, as tlio statement that he had made was casting an imputation upon every member of the House.

Mr. Young said that the member referred to was' at present in the House, and it was only fair that he should leave it to that member to decide whether ,he would speak for himself. (Opposition members: No!, No! No!) If the member did 'not answer for himself, he '(Mr. Young) would take tho responsibility of mentioning his name. Sir Joseph Ward: Has the member for Waikato followed the custom of intimating to the member concernod that he intended to bring the matter before the House? Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames): That was not'done in regard to'myself last session. (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward: Tho honourable member for Thames is one of the golden 'exceptions to I<he rn'e. Dr. Thacker (Christchurch East): .Seeing that the honourable member has not got the pluck . - <> Mr. Speaker: No member is in order in accusing, another membor of a' want of courage. That statement must be withdrawn. , , , : ' Dr. Thacker said that lie would withdraw the statement. - He was the member who had been accused, and he was proud of it. He had been accused by the Minister of Publio Health • of "poking about." • • . Mr. Speaker: You are going from the' point now. . Dr. Thacker said that he considered it important that it should be ascertained whether the feathers and the horsehair in the pillows and mattrasses "on the ship should be sterilised. He had opened the ends of a pillow and of a mattrass, and had taken out samples which he intended to submit to a bacteriological .examination in order to ascertain, whether they were infected with the microbes of any disease. That was his explanation, and if necessary ho would do it again. (Applause from Opposition members.) MEMBER'S CONDUCT CRITICISED. BY LADY WITNESSES. ' I . Dr. Thacker's action, on the Hospital Ship in tho morning was witnessed, by several ladies in Wellington who havo been for months past assisting in providing equipment for the wounded, and for tho base hospital at Trentham. In a statement to a Dominion rcpoiter later one of tliem strongly 'criticised the member's conduct, and explained how their attention was drawn to • the matter.They, wero passing one of the cabins when they saw Mr. Payne, .member for Grey Lynn, and' another gentleman, • who they afterwards loarnt was I)r; Thacker. Dr. Thacker had evidently opened a mattress, and he had a ball of what looked like horsehair in his band. . He called the attention of . tho ladies to this by saying: "Look, ladies, what they are trying to palm off as horsehair." It was pointed; out to him that horsehair was not procurable, and indignation was expressed that lie should have opened , a'mattress. Later in the morning the lady happened to be passing another cabin, when she saw Dr. Thacker take out a knife or a pair of scissors, ■ aud cut open one of the pillows. ' She did not. think ho had a right to do that, especially as notices were placed up in various places warning visitors not to .touch anything.' She drew the attention of a soldier to tho doctor, and told I)r. Thacker that she did not think ho had any authority to cut tho pillows. Mr. Payne then informed her that Dr. Thacker was an authority on the subject. The lady. in . question has had a great deal of experience in handling beds, arid pillows for hospitals . since the. war broke out, and she said that it was impossible to got horsehair for mattresses. A substitute similar, to what was used in Australia had been utilised in making many of tho mattresses secured for the Trentham Base Hospital. Tho pillow's for the Hospital Ship wero all supplied, in response to an appeal made by His Excellency the Governor, and nobody would uso feathers, she folt. certain, which had r not first been baked. A GOOD, CLEAN SUBSTITUTE. Mr. E. Collie, .'upholsterer,' when referred to regarding the substitute for horsehair, said'that he did not know what was used for the Hospital Ship, but a composition of fibre made to look like horsehair, and called "Lyxhair," wa# extensively used in Australia and New Zealand, and as far as he know was very satisfactory, though ho would not go the length of saying that it was as good as the best curled horsehair, costing 2s. Gd. per lb. , There was a sliurtaso of horsehair, however, and "Lyxhair" was a good, clean substitute, 'better than flax or tow. . He had seen testimonials from medical men recommending it, and was informed that medical men in England favoured its use, and said that it was even better than horsehair. '