A NEGLECTED CONSUMPTIVE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14660, 8 May 1913, Page 7

A NEGLECTED CONSUMPTIVE.

SAD CASE OF A FIREMAN

An extraordinary position has arisen at Lyttelton in connection with a fireman who was discharged from the steamer Maori on Tuesday, suffering from consumption in an advanced and dangerously infectious stage, and who, though all the requirements of tho law have been complied with, has been refused admission to the Hospital. A gentle- i man who has been officially connects j with the case, and who has. in faco of neglect on tho part of the proper authorities, personally taken charge of tho unfortunato man, described the attitude of tho Hospital authorities as ono of "outrageous Bumbledom." A "Press reporter made enquiries into the matter, and gathered the facts from unofficial but reliable sources, which disclosed an extraordinary and scandalous state of affairs. The man, j whoso homo port is Wellington, was discharged from tho articles of the Maori, as a medical examination disclosed thvi fact that he was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis in an advanced and dangerous stage, both lobos of tho lungs being badly affected. In accordance with tho requirements of Section 6 of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1911. tho Union Stoam Ship Company, after paying him off, entered into a boad guaranteeing him payment of three months' wages and also full hospital and board fees for that period. Dr. J. A. Newell, who was acting in tho case, arranged, by telephoning from tho Union Company's Lyttelton office, for the mtn to be admitted to the Hospital and provided with a bed, and as everything was, apparently, satisfactory, tho man went through to Christchurch. Tho doctor, tho shir>ping master, and the Union Steam Ship Company's officials having discharged their obligations in accordance with tho Shipping and Seamen Act, naturally concluded that all was well.

Yesterday morning, however, tho man reported to tho shipping master and to tho Union Company, that ho had been refused admission to tho Hospital. Ho stated that ho went to tho Hospital Lodgo and told tho porter that ho wished to soo tho doctor. He was informed that the doctor was out, and he then had a long wait from 3 p.nv till 5.30 p.m., when tho porter told him to go to the Charitablo Aid Board Office. Ho was considerably astounded and distressed at this instruction from tho porter, and could not understand why ho should bo told to go to the office when matters in connection with his case had boon properly and legally adjusted in Lyttelton. The poor fellow went back to Port, and being unable to get lodgings, ho had to walk about the wharves in the wet, and bitter cold, all night. Yesterday morning he reported himself to tho shipping master, and to tho local manager of the Union Stoani Ship Company, both of whom wero considerably astonished to see him, and much shocked when they learned of his plight.