THE OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 49, 17 February 1908, Page 4

THE OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

A NONAI.ENAiUA.VS U).Ml* LA I NTS. The following letter, addressed to tli > Editor, and signed by an of the Uonie, K. McCrudden, wag Bent to this office for publication last .week, anil held over pending enquiries being made into the circumstances:— "1 was -eiit ivr i>y my son-iu-la.v "from Victoria -vine -1\ years a"ii. [ "am told that he has paid tin? Charit"able Aid Board fourteen shillings -per week lor my keep. Out of tlii~ "the Board allowed m«- two shillings "per week to purchase clothing, nr., "which ha-. been stopped for the l.i~t

"*ii months. I Mieve the Board "have cea-ed to demand payment "from my *m-iii law. a- lie himself "is not legally responsible for my "keep, but his sons are according to "A*t of Parliament. The reason assigned for stoppage of the 2s per "week was my refiu.il to cut wood, "etc., at the hospital. My failing "health, infirmities and age (I am "now over !Hj years old I make it impossible for me to work. Tile late "chairman and the secretary, .Mr. "Lepper, ordered ine |>ereniptnrily to "obey notwithstanding. The food I "get is unsuitable to my age. >< I "have no teeth to chew meat, and "cannot dige-t it The glowing ae"counts of this institution are not "borne out by facts, though Dr. Val"intine eulogised the management."

From enquiries made it appears that R. McCrudden was sent for .six years ago, as alleged. His son-inJaw has since been paying 10s, not 14s, a week to the Board lor hie support. Out of the 10s, and up till a few months ago, the Board allowed McCrudden 2s per week pocket money, and the stoppage of that amount was entirely due to his refusal to do the light work assigned him. The chairman states that it is not actually the work McCrudden might do that is involved, but the preserving of discipline. The .particular duty assigned llcCrudden was to split up some kindling wood for the hospital, the wood having already been sawn into convenient lengths. Mr. Bellringer pointed out that a mere show of doing something on McCruddcn's part would be quite sufficient, as the inmate had been personally acquainted by the chairman himself. As it might seem unusual to expect any work at all from a advanced in years, we have procured a copy of the visiting medical officer's (Dr. Walker'?) report on McCrudden, dated December Bth, 1807:—"On the occasion of my visit this morning, McCrudden stated he would have been quite willing to do light work, had he not been forced to do it. His words were: 'l'd have done the work if I hadn't been pushed to it.' In answer to a distinct question from me, he said it was a question of principle with Mm, not of physical inability, and he would end his days in gaol sooner than break a stick of kindling wood. I found him, for his age, in a very good physical condition, and quite eqnal to such light work as is required of him."

Regarding the complaint as to the iinsui lability of the food, that, we have been convinced, would lie immediately remedied, and special dieting ordered, if the medical oilier considered it neccssarv.

So far as we can learn cases such as McCrudden's are particularly hard to deal with. His case is to come np for consideration liefore the Board today, his relatives being anxious that he should go back to Victoria. His passage money, an outfit, and a sum of t2li have licen offered by a relative for this purpose, but McCrudden refuses to avail himself of the opportunity or lo leave the Home. Under the circumstances it seems that McCrudden is not so with his treatment in the Home as his letter would seem to indicate. So far as we can see, the old man is l>eing exploited by a coterie of outside mischief-makers, whose one aim in life seems to lie to discredit the institution and its management.