WHO WROTE "YES"?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2521, 23 July 1915, Page 6

WHO WROTE "YES"?

ROYAL COMMISSION PROBLEM MEDICAL BODY DID NOT APPROVE HOSPITAL. Dr. J. S. Elliott attended fho Trentham Commission yesterday morning, and said that he wished to refer to some evidence given on Wednesday,.which made it appear that he had approved the plans for the Trentham Camp Hospital. Dr. Elliott said that he was acting-chairman of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, and principal medical officer for the Wellington Military District (since April last). Dr. Martin: As P.M.O. for the Wellington District all plans of hospitals for this. district should |)o referred to you? Dr. Elliott: According to the British regulations, they should be, but this country has been the exception.

Dr. Elliott stated that it had been said in evidence that he had written "yes" in the margin of an official letter opposite a paragraph which proposed that tho camp hospital should be erected as per the now plan', which would be an improvement on the old plan. Witness said that he was never asked to mako any proposals regarding the plans, and did not make any. The word "yes" was not in his handwriting, and he had not authorised it to be written. The letter was produced to him in Dr. M'Gavin's house by Colonel Purdy when witness was in a great hurry,'and he.simply made marginal notes regarding other matters. Ho had not had time to look at tho plan carefully. The three had met to examine some soldiers, not to study the hospital matter. However, General' Eobin had written a letter to the Minister on the strength of this, saying that the Medical Association had approved the plan. Ho objected to expressing an opinion on a plan after a cursory. glance over a man's shoulder. His object in appearing before the Commission Jo clear tlie matter up was lliat he thought tho Medical Association should not be regarded as having approved a plan which they had.not approved. Colonel Purdy was then invited by the Commission to speak on tho subject, He said that *here had been a general mixup about tho position of the Medical Association with regard to the camp hospital. He had mado it definitely clear to the association that the money which the association subscribed was not to be for a hospital building. General Eobin had said that tho mix-ui; must end, and that the Defence authorities must know exastly what tho money was to be for. He (Colonel Purdy) had made it clear to the association that the Government wvro willing to do anything in reason which he asked of them, and did not want money from outside people for tho orection of a hospital. He suggested that the money should be used to equip the hospital. General Robin asked him to get answers to certain questions, most of which Tclated to money subscribed for the hospital. Ho was meeting Drs. M'Gavin and Elliott at Dr. M'Gavin's house that afternoon, and ho toolc the letter containing the questions with him, and showed it t6 Dr. Elliott. Dr. Elliott read the letter, and wrote "Yes" (or whatever expression lie desired to use) in the margin opposite, the various paragraphs. His Honour: Do I understand from you. then that the real point was to find out from the Medical Association n;liat the money was to be for? Colonel Purdy: Yes. Was the position the Government took up tlmt it was not necessary to get tho consent of the Association to the plans? —"Yes, not at all necessary." It was not necessary to get the approval of the Association for their adoption?—" Quito so. It was out of courtesy Dr. Elliott was asked."

Colonel Purdy added that Dr. M'Gavin was' given the file containing the letter with the marginal notes. He examined the marginal notes. Ilis Honour: Did you see those notes written?

Colonel Purdy: Well, yes; but I could not say that Dr. Elliott wrote all, of them.

His Honour: He'says that "Yes" opposite paragraph four is not in his writing.

Colonel Purdy: Really, I could almost swear that some of this writing in the margins is my own. Mr. Ferguson: Do you know Dr.M'Gavin's writing? Did he write that "Yes"? .Colonel Purdy (asido to Dr. Elliott): Did M'Gavin write it?.

Dr. Elliott (to. Colonel Purdy): The only thing I know is that I didn't.'

Colonel Purdy (to the Commission): Dr. M'Gavin may have written it-as he was going out of the room.

Colonel Purdy said that it was not intended that Dr. Elliott should consider the plans.

Mr. Salmond (to Dr. Elliott): For wliat purpose do you suppose then that plan was produced to you? Dr. Elliott said lie did not think the plans were produced for his inspection, and that he would not express an opinion on a cursory examination. Isn't that wdiat the letter suggests to yon—that .you were to see the plans?— No."