A WAIRARAPA PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 5

A WAIRARAPA PROTEST

AGAINST V.D. CASES AT FEATHERSTON CAMP. • A largely-attended- public meeting, , presided'over by"the Mayor (Mr. J. W. •Card): was held in -the, Town • .IJall, Feathereton,- on. Friday to consider the-.mntter-'of consolidating-the protests 'of local , bodies and' the Wairarapa .Patriotic Association, as 'well as Mother organisations, as to the . location of. venereal disease cases in the Feathepston. Military Camp. ~, ... - The..' speaker .were Chap-' lain R. H. ° Catherwood, Chaplain Stansoh,*,. .Messrs. „ .G..R. Sykes, M.P., J. T. Ai. Horrisby, M.P., ,D. P. Loasby .(JJayor' of Greytown), A. D. M'Leod (chairman of the FeatherEton ' County Council), . G.' Hughan (Mayor of Carterton)," : F. 'W. Templo (Deputy-Mayor of Masterton); W. E. Bidwill 0.8. E. (chairman of] the.Wai-' rarapa Anzac Club and Racing-Club), A. C. Holms (borough treasurer), arid M. H. Kendall (borough councillor). Apologies were' received from the chairman of the Eketahuna County Council and the Mayor of Eketahuna, and tho president of the Patriotic Asiocitaiori, expressing - sympathy with the object of'the fixture; .also the Hon.Sir Walter Buchanan, M;L.C., and . others. ' - . • ' •/'

Mr. Holms gavo the, meeting a.lead by proposing the following resolution, ?s approved by the committee, Mr. Kendall being . the seconder"That this public jneeting, attended by representatives from' various AVairarapa local bodies and .other organisations, protests concentration of V.D. cases in a' populous cehtre, as being opposed to the best interests of the community, the patients, ■. and' their relatives, and calls upon the Minister of Defence' to locate such cases on an island or other ■ fully-isolated centre." -

At the .suggestion of the majority of the speakers, who deprecatcd any suggestion of ."casting stones" at - the patients, Mr. Holms, agreed to. eliminate the reference to • the .community— although reluctant, to do .so. , A- further suggested amendment, not being acceptable toMessrs.Holmsand Kendall, .Mr. M'Leod . moved' the following jmendment, which was carried :■ "That •tnis meeting, regretting much that has been published which is capable of being -construed as a reflection on tho military V.D. cases, strongly urges upon'.the! JJinister the necessity of having the cases in question located where.they.'.will be.entirely free from public observation or prying;" Chaplain Cathorwood was the seconder. The mover adversely Criticised the resolution passed by the Patriotic Association. On' the/motion of Mr. Bidwill, the. following resolution ' was carried 1 , Mr. Q. Donald; ' county 'councillor, being the seconder : "That- the Mayor aiid member,of the district arrange for a deputation of the; heads of the Wairarapa local bodies _ and the' Patriotic Association to waith upon the Minister of Defence."

Two following resolution was carried on the motion of' Mr. ,13. T. Zelverson, borough councillor: "That "a hearty vote of thanks be accorded represental tives from local bodies and Parliamentary representatives, tho lion, secretary (Mr. J.. M. C. M.'Kenzie),- and His Worahip the Mayor.'- ■ .-. -