LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 93, 14 January 1919, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE CLEMENS CASE Sir, —lii reference to what is known as "The Clemens Case," I am asked, through the Press, to "state what information I deeirc to obtain at an inquiry. Please allow' me to say the case is really that of all returned wounded soldiers,. and not of any one man. The Defence Minister was correct in his statement when he said: "Mr. Clemens is concerned only in enearing that there ' shall be- no similar trouble in the future.." It is because tho Minister cannot, or will not, give the required Assurance that I am fighting. Many-New Zealand soldiers have fought, bled, and died for the women and children of Belgium, France, and other nations, many more have been wounded, and it is just and fair for chose who have, remained here' to see they receive proper treatment. The fight should not be mine alone, but should engage the attention of every mother who has a soldier son, every wife who has a. soldier husband, and every, religious and political organisation. In my letter dated December 5 I referred to certain neglect in the Auckland Annexe which was experienced'by my son, and said: .This boy and other boys, being privates, were placed in an open Tard at the annexe. Officers less seriously ill were placed in private rooms. I am informed this is in accordance with "regulations." Can you tell me what would have happened if the boy's mother had not fought for his life? Can you toll me what has happened to boys who had not any one at all to fight.for- them? \ ' I endeavoured to impress on the Minister how wrong it jvas to place serious medical cases in an open ward while minor cases were treated in private rooms simply "because the patients were commissioned officers. The Minister stated he could not agree to a change,, and said he only followed a world-wide tjstom. I. want such an inquiry as will cause: the people of this Dominion to say, in the words of Lloyd George: ' 'World-wide customs be damned it the custom is wrong." 1 want to establish the fact that private soldiers, although seriously ill, have received inferior accommodation and attention to that given to those of commissioned rank whose cases, have iiot required the private rooms and tho> special treatment received. I want to know what would have happened to my boy last July if his mother had not tought for , his life. I want to know what did happen to boys for whom there was not any fighting. In my letter I said: "' ■ , - Tho time has arrived when it 6hould not matter-whether a returned soldier 'is the son? , of a Cabinet Minister or of the most menial man in New Zealand; each should be "given of the best. It ■would be idle and foolish to say that tilts lias been done, during the past.four years. It is beyond question that invalided officers have received different, and better, treatment than invalided privates. - I want , ,, such an inquiry as will result in the ' son of the most- menial man in. this Dominion obtaining tho same treatment as the eon of a Cabinet Minister, and also just the same care and attention. In my letter I asked: Is it right that a well-paid, healthy officer should'travel, at the public expense, in a sleeping-car while an invalid soldier is taken . from his sick bod and sent by the same train as an ordinary railway passenger?- ' '-. ' • I want such ah inquiry as will result ,in an invalid soldier having a sleeping-car even if a healthy- officer has to travel as an ordinary passenger. In my letter 1 asked: . Is it right that a motor-car ; should be specially sent from Haniner to Culverden to meet an offi- ' cer while an invalid soldier travels ■ from Culverden to Hanmer in the motor omnibus? - • The Minister told me' that disciplinedemanded thai the' officer should not travel in the same conveyance as the private soldier. I \yant such 'an inquiry as will,result in. invalid soldiors being conveyed in the most suitable manner even if a healthy staff officer has to walk of' travel in a motor omnibus. . . Soldiers died at Hanmer as the result of Niagara influenza. I want such an inquiry as will sheet home the blame for this and other loss"of life. I ask you, Sir, ,if I am justified in fighting on, and it is,open for you and your readers to decide.—l am, etc., ■ C. H.'CLEMENS.