FEATHERSTON CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1919, Page 6

FEATHERSTON CAMP.

EEPLY TO ALLEGATIONS. Wellington, Sept. 6. The Minister fo Defence has fur- < Dished a reply to the allegations made ( by the Returned Soldiers' Association re- i girding, the conditions at Featherston t Camp. _ He states that the allegations i do not justify the description of "sensational." There has been a lack of co- « ordination on the part of those respou- ( sible for conducting the institution and ) arranging supplies. This was being rec- $ tified and most of the other causes of * complaint were being investigated before the delegation of returned soldiers made £ its report. The wards are considered ( suitable by an expert on tuberculosis, 1 but it is admitted they do not reach the ' standard of cheerfulness which the do- 1 partment aims at .at Waipukurau- < Specific complaints are replied to and it s is stated that preparations are now be- ' ing made for the transfer of patients to i Waipukurau from both Featherston and , Te Waikato, thus enabling the latter to lesume the treatment of civilians. It t is admitted there were minor causes for I complaint, but these would have been ! remedied without outside criticism. < The Minister is satisfied there was < no reason to suggest that patients and < men were neglected or that their treat- I ment was in any way prejudiced by the conditions at Featherston. There had been a change in the control of the in- C stitution since the* visit of the delega- I tion, the medical officer now being Col- I onel M'Lean, a Main Body officer who * had experience in the field and as com- I mander of the New Zealand Hospital at ( Codford. [ ■»■—»••»—nam t