VETERAN’S COMPLAINT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 127, 19 August 1927, Page 3

VETERAN’S COMPLAINT

ADMINISTRATION OF HOME “FOOD NOT ALWAYS GOOD” From statements by an inmate of the Veterans’ Home at Mount Roskill, there seems to be ground for some complaints which have been made recently regarding the administration of the home. ■rrr^n e of the vetera ns, Sergeant-Major William Cassidy, D.C.M., states that there should be an inquiry into the running of the home. He is a man of close on 65 years, who saw service in Af s- ica w ith the second and eighth contingents. In addition to his „ C,M - was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s bronze medal for saving the life of Lieutenant Findlav on April 1, 1900, while crossing the Hartebeest River. M*. Cassidy says that since August I ., he “ as been making fires for the other inmates at 7 o’clock each morning. During the coldest of the winter months there were no fires in the early morning, and many of the old men simply sat shivering with the cold. The home was well arranged, said Air. Cassidy, but it might be better run. For instance, he said that on many occasions the firewood and the coal were locked up. One of the old inmates of the home would have purchased his own coal, but he was not allowed to do so. At one time the inmates were allowed to have morning and afternoon tea, but that has been done away with for some time. Mr. Cassidy had some complaints to make about the food. He said that at times it was not fit for men of 80 and over. One morning the men could not eat the fish which was given them for breakfast. When they complained the administrator told them that he would not order any more fish. Mr. Cassidy states that the fish was far from fresh. “I would be a coward and a cur if I did not tell you these things.” remarked the old sergeant-maior.