END OF ROAD

NZ Truth, Issue 1185, 16 August 1928, Page 4

END OF ROAD

And^bndering Where He Is To Turn (F.rom "N.Z. Truths" Dunedin Rep.) ";> The plight of Elliott Stan dfiel.d., whose .treatment at the hands' of the ptago Hospjtal was related m .a recent 'issue of "N.Z. Truth;" has not yet been relieved. '•'-.".".■'■■ .-• ■ v i* "A". PUBLIC meeting held last week did ■ ' little more than perform the empty formality 'of passing a resolution giving the opinion that the Destitute Person's Act should be amended to give a magistrate; power to commit a person to, a ;benevolent institution under the control of a hospital board. ■Is this the .manner m which Dunedin, ever boastful of its charity and warmheartedness, sets, about' clothing and feeding -a human derelict who urgently needs helping? ;- . ; "N.Z. Truth 1 ' holds no particular brief for Stahdfield, but would' point out to' those Dunedin people who have ■interested themselves m the case, both for .and against, that . the ■ main issue ■at stake has been, so fai*, entirely neglectedi; ;,':■. \ ■'■ ; ;; '.' ' : '. '.' ■• . s : What 'has ' happened m the ' past is ,nbw tieside. the point. < Standfield is an, ageing -'.man, ■ penniless and^home;l6ss:;;- l lshei. fit for work? -. ' ' , „r This matter can.pnly be., settled by an iridependeht medical tribunal. ,;T^ie '.profusion ■ of correspondence, mcistly anonymous, to' which the ;Dunediii daily press has extended unusual 'tolerance, ' not advanced Standfield's welfare one iota. ••■. ; ' "Mother \of Six,"' "Interested," ■v"Rro,' Bono Publico," etc., have ex-. "ploite.d, the columns of the daily press without, of. course,, getting , 'anywhere. _. - . ' . ■' Standfield • was encouraged" by the BEospital ' Board to waste • the best t^yenty- five /years', of his ! lif c. : . ,- '•.■' If he is. now found capable of work he should; ,. be ', compelled, to; sustain 'himself j ifrihe is found- incapable of doing so, the provisions of State charity shouldbe "extended to Jhim as they have been to. many' others who have found themselves. in even more fortu-. nate circumstances than himself.