SOLDIER MENTAL PATIENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 140, 9 March 1920, Page 8

SOLDIER MENTAL PATIENT

MAKES GRAVE CHARGES INQUIRY OPENED AT DUNEDIN By Tclocraiih—Prota Association. Dunedin, March 8. Mr.' D. G. A. Cooper. S.M., eat here to-day, under tile terms of a commission authorised by tho Government, to sift certaih allegations made by Donald M'lntosh, a returned soldier. Mr. A. C. Hanlon, who appeared "for M'lntosh, said the allegations were that M'lntosh was placed in Seacliff Mental Hospital, and kept there for several weeks before being legally committed; that his money was taken from him; that his back pay was hot paid to him, but was sent to the Mental Hospital Department to pay for Jiis board whilst ho was an inmate, such proceeding being illegal; /that he was discharged from the service on his legal commitment to Seacliff, although he was not - made aware of it until his discharge from the hospital thirteen months later; that his military pay was stopped from the dato' of his military discharge, and that after fourteen months' incaceration in the mental hospital, when he was sot at libety to enter civil life once more, he ■was discharged from amongst the worst class of patients, instead of being brought up gradually through tho various stages of convalescence; that he had to leave Seacliffe wearing, the uniform of a madman; that he was refused thq money Which lie had taken in; and that he was conveyed to Wanganui, in which town he had lodged prior to en-, listing, and :thcre was cast adrift with-' out a penny, and was left for threo months without any monetary support whatever. In general terras also the charge set' down: "That the nature of M'lntosh's illness, as that'of many other soldiers, was 6uch as would not only not be benefited .by being placcd in such an - institution, but was more likely to be further, aggravated". Counsel Hints at Wider Inquiry. Mr. Hanlon said that M'lntosh appealed for an inquiry into all these charges, and his appeal was renewed from tima to time. As M'lntosh persisted, the Department first granted ono claim and then another, jintil all that he had asked for had been granted. As to the charges, which wero of a general nature, since coming to Dunedin and interviewing the Returned Soldiers' Association and

•several leading medical men, Including the foremost nerve specialist in the Dominion, and having ■ seen corroborative evidence of his statements as to the conditions of things then at the hospital, and being assured that the Returned Soldiers' Association wa9* determined to press for a Boyal Commission of Inquiry into the whole question of the committal to and the teatment of returned men, in mental asylums, M'lntosh, acting on counsel's; advice, asked permission to withdraw without prejudice the charges not yet dealt with, contained in his petition to the . House of Eepesentatives, • in order that his evidenco might be available in connection with the wider inquiry when that took place. Mr. W. C. MacGregor, K.C., paid that all the matters referred to-had been discussed-in the House. The Prime minister then promised that the charges should not be allowed to rest where they were, and assured the House that a futl and proper inquiry would be 'held. It was quite open to M'lntosh and his advisers to bring forward any charges thoy wished. So far as this particular case was concerned, ho could not help saying he thought it was regrettable, in the interests of M'lntosh himself, that these complaints were ever made; but since they had been made it was essential, in th» interests of the public also, that they should be inquired into. The commissioner: Mr. Hanlon withdraws t)he charges now. Mr. MacGregor: No, ho has repeated them publicly so that the whole subject go?s abroad in a distorted form and with no evidence in support of it. , Reply of Authorities Outlined. The charges were four in. number, said Mr. MacGrcgor. Tho first charge was that the man was illegally detained. That was a question of law, and entirely unfounded in that the form of the com-, mittal was absolutely legal, and M'lntosh had every attention and treatment while at ICaritane and at the mental hospital. M'lntcshV second charge was that there aas no reasonable ground for treating him as a mental defective. Counsel proposed to show that it was essential, for tlio man's own sake, and Fake of others, that lie should be confined as a mental defective. The third charge was that ho to unreasonable rwnd improper treatment. That was a question of fact, although there was overwhelming evidence' that, he'was treated Tvith the utmost kindness and consideration. He was ungrateful for his treatment. The .fourth charge was that he was subjected to harsh or exceptional treatment in respect to his military pay or allowances. The files in regard to that would he put before the commission. It would be shown that M'lntosh had been liberally treated— much more liberally than his military • records demanded. In strict law, he,, was not entitled .to a pension at, all, but nevertheless he was given one.

Grave Charges, If True,

These chargcs, if true, were a grave reflection on the Mental and I Defence authorities, but ho (counsel) was glad to say that the evidence would show they wore entirely untrue, and were based throughout on the diseased imagination of a mental patient. ' The only evidence ill supDprt of tho charges was tlvat of Mlntosh himself, ■ . Mr. Hanlon, in reply, said that what was complained of was that M'lntosh was sent .to Karitane and tho MentalHospital without warrant. Mr. MhcGregor: Do you proposa to prove that? * ■. ■ Mr. Hanlon: You admitted it a moment ago. ' The commissioner said that if the allegations were not unreeervedly .withdrawn, he must proceed to hear them. Mr. Hanlon: I don't "withdraw them, not lor Tl single moment. Mr. MacGregor:' Do you call any witnesses? J Mr. Hanlon: I have intimated I dn not intend to onll any. i. Mr- n ™ a ,? G l refilor: Are you not going to call M'lntosh? Mr. Hanlon: No. You hsivc given way °A P om te except one. 'Mr. MncGregor then proceeded to call witnesses, and the further hearing was adjourned till Wednesday morning. The commissioner will in the meantime visit Seacliff Mental Hospital.