HOSPITAL SCANDAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2001, 10 July 1919, Page 2

HOSPITAL SCANDAL.

SHOCKING CONDITIONS AT FEATHERSTON.

Auckland, July 0. I- 4 Rev. Burgin and Mr J. Curlainp, at the request of the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association, investigated complaints about the treat- / ment of-patients at Peatherston military hospital. Rev, Burgin last night made a report on the matter to a meeting of the Auckland branch. He said that they found the complaints made were entirely justilled. The delegation was shocked at many things it discovered, and had not believed it possible that' such conditions' could exist at a hospital where sick victims of the war are treated. They spent June 29th and 30th in the camp hospital, whore there were ahout 100 tubercular cases and 40 patients with heart trouble. There was a general shortage of crockery, and all sick men were using badly broken and chipped .enamelware. The sheets and tea-towels were badly stained, and (here was not per provision of clothing. The old wooden hutments used as wards were comfortless, and there was a shortage of firewood. The root of (he trouble was a lack of co-ordina-tion between (ho Ordnance and the Medical Departments, and (he hospital ' orderlies wore not the right type of men. After their visit they saw General Richardson, who gave an assurance that every defect would ho rectified immediately. INDIGNATION IN AUCKLAND. . Auckland, Last Night. Revelations in regard to the treatment of consumptives at Pea(herston hospital have aroused great indignation locally. The Red Cross Society is sending goods, and has telegraphed to the Ordnance Department urging it to supply other requisites. Proceeds of the sales of sports programmes daring the Peace celebrations will also he devoted to the benefit of patients. ‘‘We all fell very saddened when we read the report of the way in which our men have been treated in i hospital,” remarked (he deputy s*Mayor, Mr A. J. Enlrican, “What is (he Returned Soldiers’ Association going to do about the report?” was the question put to the secretary of that organisation, Mr Andrews, tin's morning. “The report shows that the way the men have been treated there is absolutely disgraceful,” lie added. “It is no use people rushing to make excuses. Every member of Parliament and member of Cabinet is responsible, as well as (he authorities directly concerned, for they should have known what was faking place. The report is all the more impressive coming at a time when the people are preparing for Peace rejoicings. If our men had been treated in German prison camps in this way everybody would have been crying out about it.”