DOCTOR URGES LIVE RUGBY TELECASTS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 1

DOCTOR URGES LIVE RUGBY TELECASTS

“I wish the New Zealand Rugby Union would remember people such as ■ our patients, when it decides against allowing live television broadcasts of football matches.” the medical superintendent of the Burwood Hospital (Dr. J. H. Mclntyre) said at the handing-over ceremony of a television set at the hospital. “Even if the screening of the matches were to be arranged later, as the union suggests, it would be a disappointment that the telecast was not live. It is a bit of an anti-climax watching, a match of which the - result is known,” Dr. Mclntyre said. The television set was presented for the men's plastic ward by the Pride of Richmond Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes No. 179. and represented two years’ effort by the lodge. The decision to raise money for the purpose was made when one of the lodge members had a son in the ward.

1 Dr. Mclnytre explained i- that patients in the ward r often had little wrong with s; them other than facial dis-. - figurements; but these dis--1 ‘ figurements. represented a' ■- ; considerable psychological I barrier to their mixing with ) i other persons. In the subdued •light of a room darkened'for II television, however, they mostly lost their shyness and f were able to mix with, visitors - or patients from other wards, i' Television was therefore a •'major source of recreation t 1 among them. f A rented set which was t being used in the men’s plasj tic ward until the new set ■'! was presented will be trans- ’ ferred to another part of the ’> hospital. i The new set was handed . i over. by Mr H. B. Robson, ’.chairman of the organising of the lodge, and ! | received by the chairman of ! the North Canterbury HOspi--11 tai Board (Dr. L. C. L. Averill),