INQUIRY GRANTED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3330, 7 November 1919, Page 7

INQUIRY GRANTED.

SOLDIERS IN LIENTAL HOSPITAL.

ALLEGED WRONGFUL DETENTION.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 3

Referring to a report by the Public Petitions Committee relative to a man who had been detained in a. mental hospital, which the committee recommended Should be referred to the Gov‘ernment. for inquiry, Sir Joseph \Vard said the case of all soldiers who returned to New Zealand suffering temporarily from mental trouble should’ be inquired into by a public tribunal. The Minister for Defence said no soldier. patients who came back were put direct into ha. mental hospital. Every case was sent to Karitane or other similar institution, for ‘treatment. A man was only transferred to a mental hospital when such a step ‘was found absolutely necessary. He did not know the details of the -case quoted, but would have it, or any other that might be discovered, investigated fully. Mr Veitch, who had presented the petition, said he was satisfied with the report, but hoped the inquiry would be public. The. facts in his possession indicated that this’ case possessed fea~ tures making it one of the most scan'dul‘ous disclosed in connection with the New Zealand forces. He asked that the inquiry tribunal should be outside military influence, as desired by the Returned Soldiers’ Association in all similar cases. I

I\lr Massey, speaking for the Ministry of Public !Hcalth, with whose department the m:lt7cel‘ rested, said he would see ‘that the fullest public in(iuiry should be made in this or any similar case.

“ Ml‘ Semple said he was safisfled this man was {he victim of cruel circumstances. He asked that the pay stopped during the. _man’,'g detention Elle made up ‘to him. '

Mr Dickson, chairman of the committee, said that while evidence before it did not discount the statements made by members of the House, ‘fhe committee did not feel jusfified in -I'ecommendi~ng more than it had done, leaving ‘it to the Government to Take fnrtller stops after the -inquiry.