THE V.D. PATIENTS AT FEATHERSTON CAMP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 69, 16 December 1918, Page 6

THE V.D. PATIENTS AT FEATHERSTON CAMP

Sir-No doubt the Wellington people know the facts concerning the above matter, but what I want is their sympathy and support, since our member, Mr. Hornsby, who ought to be championing our cause, has gone over to the enemy saying there was a V.D. hospital there before, and he does not see why we should hamper the Government in its present action, and practically sees no harm if a permanent V.D. hospital i is established at Featherston, providing proper supervision is exorcised. Now, Sir, I admit there was a V.D. Hospital' during the whole existence of the camp at Featherston, and no doubt these cases a.ire treated at fll the hospitals in New Zealand, besides home treat-, ment which we know nothing about, as there is no Act preventing it. But there are many forms of this disease, and all the 'bad cases were- sent to Quail Island, including those from Egypt. If it was thought desirable to isolate these cases when the camps were in existence, surely the lives of the civilians ought to be considered as well as the soldiers. There is no doubt that the authorities mean to make Featherston camp the venereal camp of the Dominion, unless the people of the Wairarapa and Wellington rise up in a body to prevent it. Although only 30 or 40 were brought up from Quail Island, there will be hundreds coming shortly of the worse kind, to be dumped down on the Wairarapa people. It: is absurd to say proper supervision can be exercised. Besides. I maintain it is wrong and a great injustice that these people, for their own feelings' as well as the people of the Wairarapa, should be placed in the midst of a closely settled district. I suppose the authorities think as we have had the "sweets" of camp life for three years, they will now give us the "sour" side, with the German prisoners thrown in. As they propose to have the main hospital at Trentham camn, why should these men not be located there 'and be under the same sunervision ? I admit the authorities arc in an awkward fix, and if an assurance is given that the present arrangement is only verv temporary (the supervision proviso I look upon as a farcei. and other arrangements will be made, I am sure the present feelin? of anxiety will be allayed in the Wnir»r.i.nn:-T am, etc. . HEALTHY DISTRICT. Wairarapa, December 12, 1918.