ARE THEY NEGLECTED ?

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2840, 3 August 1916, Page 5

ARE THEY NEGLECTED ?

——4- .. SOLDIERS IN "WELLINGTON HOSPI- .,"•'• TAL. A statement \vas'made by Dr. Thacker in tho House on Monday that he had been informed, by 'soldiers iu tho Victoria Wards of tuo Wellington Hospital that they received no comforts, or motor . drives, or any thing of the sort. Tho Defence Minister expressed doubt as to tho accuracy of Dr. 'J'hacker's information at the time, and said ho would make inquiries. In the House. yesterday afternoon ho read the.following letter, under date August 1,. from .Major Deck, N.Z.M.C., in charge of the military wards at "Wellington Hospital. •/ ■ ■ ' "I notico in to-day's Dominion a paragraph in which Dr. Thacker eom- ., plains of the lack of comforts supplied to the returned soldiers by tho patriotic association-, and tho public in the Victoria Wards. As medical officer in charge, I feel it my duty, iu common ialrness to tho many generous donors of tho gifts, etc., to emphatically deny ' that Oie soldiers hero are neglected in any way. In support of my statement J. have obtained from the sister in charge a list of donations received during tho past month (July), and I may also add that tJis men wo almost daily treated to motor rides in cars placed at their disposal. Concerts ore frequently given in the wards by visiting companies and local musical talent, and the men receive many invitations to social evenings at private honies." Attached to the letter is a list of donations for tho month ofouly. This list comprises provisions nnd dainties of all sorts, fruit, cigarettes, and tobacco, from societies nnd guilds and.private, individuals. The list mentions gifts of other "comforts" of a. more permanent character presented by various' people. • These include a piano, two gramophones, invalid tables, invalid chairs, wheel-chairs, cards, games,' "books, also gifts-of money for the purchase of comforts. Commenting on the letter, Mr. Allen said: "I don't (Kink it can be said under the circumstances that , the soldiers are being neglected." Dr. Thacker: I will supply you with the names Oi thirty soldiers who deny that they got theso things. Mr. "Wilford: I will givo you a statement to the same; effect. The men say the gifts are put into tho pool. Brief mention ,was made at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington War Belief Association concerning tho remarks niado recently by the member for Christchurch East in tho House in,regard to tho returned soldiers in the Victoria Ward of tho Wellington Hospital -not receiving comforts in tlie shnpo of cigarettes, motor drives, etc. The chairman (Mr. ' W. Ferguson) said that tho association did not believe tho report, and he stated that the men in question had begn and are' being provided with tho comforts "mentioned.. In tho matter of requestsfor those things tho. association was only too willing and pleased to supply them.