§ 18. Major HUNTasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the bad and verminous condition of another miliary hospital in India, and as to the desire to keep down expenses without regard to the comfort and well-being of the sick and wounded men; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Chamberlain)In explanation of his question my hon. and gallant Friend has been good enough to send me a newspaper extract which does not specify the name of the hospital about which complaint is made or give the name of the person who makes the charges. I do not know whether I am right in assuming that the hospital 19 intended is Colaba Hospital, but allegations reached me recently on the authority of an officer who, I regret to say, refused to give his name, to the effect that the roof at that hospital was full of bugs which dropped on the beds, that there was no ice, that there was great scarcity of linen, and that officers arriving from the front were put in unwashed pyjamas. I telegraphed to the Government of India expressing my regret that the officer making these serious charges refused to allow his name to be given to me and would not come forward to substantiate them. But I added that as I was informed that he was a thoroughly reliable person I must ask the Government of India to investigate and report upon these charges. I said that I should be glad if the Governor of Bombay could be associated with the inquiry. To this telegram I received the following answer:
The General Commanding at Bombay was requested to investigate the allegations made in collaboration with His Excellency the Governor. They reported that there was at all times in October (winch was the date named) an ample supply of clean linen and pyjamas kept specially for officers: that the supply of ice never-ran below 900 lb. on any day in that month; and that no complaint was entered during the whole month in The complaint book kept for that purpose in the officers' ward. They reported further that every possible means had been taken to eradicate bugs by the use of the cyanide process in wards and of blow lamps for beds, and they stated that they were satisfied that there was little cause for complaint under this head and none under the others.In transmitting this Report the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Charles Monro, said that it would be clear that the allegations made were groundless and unjust to a body of medical officers and ladies who were doing their utmost to make the sick as comfortable as possible. The Commander-in-Chief added that he inspected all the hospials in Bombay towards the close of October, and he gave it as his opinion that they were admirably conducted and organised in every respect, adding, "The responsibility is mine and I accept it." In forwarding this Report to me the Commander-in-Chief and the Viceroy make an earnest protest against the dissemination of such charges on anonymous authority against deserving officials who are working their hardest for the public good.I hope the House will allow mo to add that, having now called upon the Government of India to investigate several of these anonymous allegations, and having found in each case that they were either grossly exaggerated or altogether without foundation, I think I am entitled to ask 20 before ordering further investigation that the people who make the charges shall give evidence of their good faith by supplying full particulars and by themselves coming forward to substantiate the charges which they make.
§ Sir J. D. REESWere not serious allegations made against a hospital at Wellington, which proved upon inquiry to be totally unfounded, and caused great annoyance to those concerned in the management?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir; that is another case in which allegations were made which I thought it my duty to investigate, and they proved to have the very slightest foundation.
§ Mr. DILLONCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that any officer or medical officer who substantiates such charges will not be persecuted?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINSo long as I am responsible—and I think in a matter like this I can speak for my successors—no officer who discloses in a proper way defects in our administration which ought to be remedied, and who proves the case which he alleges, will be penalised for so doing. I do not think that I ought to give, or that the House would expect me to give, an indemnity to everyone who repeats tittle-tattle and gossip without a scrap of foundation.
§ Mr. DILLONI said, if he proves his charges.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf he proves his charges, so long as I am responsible, no officer shall suffer for making them.
§ Mr. BILLINGDoes that answer also refer to the inspection of hospitals occupied by rankers?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe particular complaint referred to a hospital for officers and to the officers' quarters in the hospital. The Commander-in-Chief's reply stated that he had personally inspected all the hospitals in Bombay and his commendation applied to them all.