WERE THERE GIFTS?
CONDUCT OF SANATORIUM
IS SUBJECT OF INQUIRY
FORMER STATE MINISTER
MENTIONED AS RECIPIENT
Sitting as a Royal Commission in the Third City Court today, Mr. V. Tanner, P.M., commenced an investigation into the management of the Greenvale Sanatorium (a Government institution for the purpose of treating persons suffering from tuberculosis), and into certain allegations made by a former inmate of the institution in regard to the disposal of foodstuffs and other matters.
In the original commission issued to Mr Tanner the allegations to be inquired into were set out as being:-
“That certain officials connected with the Board of Public Health have from time to time visited the Greenvale Sanatorium and improperly obtained thereat and taken away therefrom, for their own benefit, eggs, poultry, butter, or other produce, the property of the State, and also that milk, poultry, and vegetables, the produce of operations carried on at the institution to satisfy the needs of patients thereof, are sold: that jams, pickles, sauces, and other like commodities, from time to time given to the institution for consumption by the patients, are not supplied to them; that books given to the institution do not reach it, and that little luxuries given by firms and others for the use of patients go astray.”
SCOPE EXTENDED
Later the Commission was extended by requiring Mr. Tanner also to inquire into the following allegations:-
1. That the patients are not supplied with a sufficiency of eggs, and that eggs produced for the use of the patients are given away to persons outside the institution.
2. That watered or separated milk is given to patients instead of pure milk, and that milk or cream is sold from the institution instead of being used by the patients.
3. That the patients are not supplied with sufficient poultry and vegetables. That poultry and vegetables intended for the patients are sold to outside persons.
4. That the supply of food to patients is inadequate to their requirements.
5. That patients who are not supplied with foodstuff; by their friends are dependent on other patients for various kinds of food.
6. That books, clothing and delicacies sent by friends for the use of patients are withheld from the persons for whom they are intended.
Mr. W. H. Jones (instructed by the Crown Law Department) appeared to assist the inquiry, and Mr. H. Shelton (instructed by Messrs. W. B. and O. M’Cutcheon) appeared to intervene for Dr. A. A. Brown, the medical superintendent of the Sanatorium.
Mr. Jones, in opening, explained that the inquiry arose out of a debate which took place in the Legislative Assembly on March 6, when certain allegations were made public by Mr. E. J. Hogan, M.L.A., who read extracts from a letter which he had received from Mr. O. P. Russell, a former inmate of the Sanatorium, and was at Mitcham, where he had been visited by Detective Piggott. Unfortunately Russell was still too ill to give evidence, and therefore secondary evidence would have to be put in. Three other persons who might have been able to give relative evidence could not now be traced, and another was also too ill to travel.
MR HOGAN CALLED
Edmund John Hogan, farmer and member for Warrenheip in the Legislative Assembly, was the first witness called. He gave evidence in regard to receiving the letter from Mr Russell containing certain allegations. He made inquiries to obtain corroboration and subsequently brought the matter up in the House, with a view to getting an inquiry. Witness did not go to Greenvale but he interviewed some persons who knew something about the management of the place.
Much time was occupied in discussing what witnesses should be called.
Mr. Jones (continuing his examination):- In your speech in Parliament you said that one of the persons who were supposed to have received gifts from the institution was stated to be an exalted personage. Who was that?
Mr. Hogan: I refrained from mentioning the name at the time, and I did not want to mention it here. The person referred to who I was informed had received gifts from the institution was Mr Hagelthorn, one of the Ministers.
Mr Jones: Would you mind giving us the source of your information? -I think I got it from a couple of sources. It seemed to be a matter of general knowledge.
Mr. Jones: Can you give the Commission the names of any other persons in high places to whom gifts are supposed to have been given? -I have heard general statements, but nothing definite.
THREE WEEKS’ EXPERIENCE
Mr Shelton: In this letter Mr Russell said that he had only been in the institution for three weeks.
Did you get any actual evidence from Mr Russell himself as to what he did say? From whom did you get the name of Mr Hagelthorn? -I got it from Dr. Bird, of Northcote, when I went to his place at Northcote somewhere between March 1 and March 6.
Did you get it verbally or in writing? -I got it verbally.
Did you obtain Mr Hagelthorn’s name from Mr Russell, or through some other person? -I think I got the name from Mr Russell, and I have heard of it from other sources.
GRIEVE’S TESTIMONY
David Grieve, employed as a bread-carter at Dandenong, and who entered the Sanatorium about the middle of last November, said that it was his duty every evening to cart away the cream to a man named Miller, who lived near Greenvale. Grieve also said that the separated milk was only given to the pigs.
The inquiry is proceeding.
Source: The Herald (Melbourne, Vic); Thu 22 August 1918 (Page 9)
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242735782
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