THE TUBERCULOSIS COMMISSION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 379, 13 June 1928, Page 8

THE TUBERCULOSIS COMMISSION

THE COMMISSION appointed to investigate problems of tuberculosis in the Dominion has decided to conduct its sittings in camera. The decision is to be regretted, for a policy of secrecy will certainly undermine and overthrow a confidence already weakened by misgivings the origin and nature of which do not now need to be entered into. It is true that an expert commission might do its duty with perfect success in the face of public interest; but there is no reason why the task should be made more difficult by putting public mistrust as an obstacle in the way. But this is far from being the only objection. The commission is sitting xxpon an inquiry of the deepest public interest, on particular grounds as well as general. There are lay and medical members of the public who have evidence to give, hut who can most usefully give their evidence if they are aware of the course taken by the inquiry and of the evidence given by other witnesses. The object of the commission should he to open every avenue along which valuable evidence may be encouraged to come. While it is in general true that a useful witness will prefer to give public evidence and often remain silent rather than give his evidence in a secrecy he distrusts, and while others will not realise that they have useful evidence to give unless and until they see the reason for it in the published evidence of others, there are perhaps some whom the personal nature of the evidence they have to give will induce to prefer giving it in camera. There is no reason why the commission should not vary its procedure by taking and giving the right of a private hearing in sxxeh circumstances; nor is there reason why references to individual eases of tuberculosis, their diagnosis, and treatment presumably there will be sueh—should not he prevented from becoming painful to the individual by the use of some code of letters or riumbers agreed on.