ROYAL COMMISSION EXONERATES 1918

Mr Tanner, P.M., who was appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into charges made in the Legislative Assembly by Mr. Hogan concerning the conduct of certain officials in the management of the Greenvale Sanatorium, has presented his report to the Governor.

The report says that the allegation that certain officials of the Board of Health had improperly obtained from the institution eggs, poultry, butter or other produce, the property of the State, had not been proved.

There was no evidence to show that eggs were given away to anyone outside tho institution, Eggs were, sold occasionally, and the money received was properly accounted for.

The Commissioner expresses no opinion on the question of whether sufficient eggs were given patients, because that was a matter of treatment.

The allegation that jams, pickles, sauces, and other like commodities given to the institution were not supplied to patients, and that luxuries went astray was not proved.

Watered or separated milk way on occasions given to patients, but not with the knowledge of the Superintendent. By reason of the milk going to the creamery to be separated, and the cream therefrom sold, the quantity available for patients was insufficient.

The evidence disclosed that the poultry at the institution was purchased by the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Brown from his own private means with the intention of instructing the patients in poultry farming. The poultry was not primarily intended for consumption. Patients received poultry at Christmas and Easter, and some bed patients also at other times.

There was always plenty of vegetables, and any dealings in vegetables were to the advantage of the institution.

Food supplied was adequate, except that for the Sunday evening meal, when too much reliance was placed by the management on the generosity of visitors, and food for this meal was unreasonably curtailed. Excepting this meal, it. was not proved that patients who did not receive enough food from friends were dependent on other patients.

Nor was there any evidence that books intended for tho institution did not reach it.

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