PUKEORA SANATORIUM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 6

PUKEORA SANATORIUM

RETURNED SOLDIERS AND GENERAL M'GAVIN'S REPORT.

Referring to the published report of General M'Gavin 011 matters in connection with the Pukeora Sanatorium, the secretary of the Wellington Returned. Soldiers' Association, Mr. H>. •!.' F> Aldrich, states that this renort, unless read very carefully, is likely to convey a false impre.ssion of tho attitude of tho R.S.A. upon the matter. Referring to the attitude of the patients General M'Gavin stated that a Complaints Committee bad been formed, among the. patients and that individuals weTe not allowed to complain except to (his committee, which reported tho complaints to tho R.S.A. The latter body then sent a sub-committee, to investigate and report, press action being then taken without bringing the matters, in question. to the notice of the officer m charge. Mr. Mdricb stated that he wished to make it. clear that the Returned Soldiers Association was certainly not aware of such an arrangement by the patients, and was not. in any sense party to it. The deputation sent, by the Wellington association had in. fact in its report speciticallv recommended a definite eourso of procedure and 0110 to which no exception could be taken: "We are of opinion that visits of inspection should be as mfronuent as possible and that, they slioiul he undertaken only 011 the invitation of the Welfare Committee (i.e.. Patients Committee), founded 011 a written _ statement of grievances and accompanied by the assurance that these have, been submitted to the 0.C." Mr. Aldrich added that tho R.S.A.. while dewing to avoid as much as possible onvthing that could be construed as "interference with tlm work of medical institutions for soldiers, could not ignore the complaints which hid. been made and its experience in investigating such matters had shown that there was -usually a thoroughly justifiable basis. Tll the osso of Pukeora it. hail been established that partioulfuly in the early stages the patients Ijad been subjected to hardships which should nave been foremen and provided npunst. and the fact that these had finally been remedied did not dispose of either tho liecessitv for the investigations undertaken or the need for vigilance by the R-S.A.