OTAKI HOSPITAL. ADMISSION OF NATIVE PATIENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 47, 25 February 1908, Page 8

OTAKI HOSPITAL. ADMISSION OF NATIVE PATIENTS.

A COMPLAINT. At tho conclusion of tho ordinary business, at a meeting of tho Hospitj.l Trustees to-day, a member Mr. F. G. Bolton, stated he had an important mattci' to bring to light. It was in regaid to tho itaki Hospital. He had been informed by a resident of tho district, who several years ago was a member of the District Hobpital Board, that there were grave complaints as to tho way people, particularly natives, wore received into the Otaki Hospital. From his informant — he had authority to use his name, it was Mr. U. Brown — Mr. Bolton understood that tho hospital was built primarily for tho benefit of the native race. Now he was given to understand that they were not accorded the ordinary facilities. Nominally, but only nominally, the natives were landowners, and because of this, although they were visibly wit.hout money, they wore refused admission to the hospital becauso thoy were- unable to pay. Mr. Bolton further stated that ho was given to understand that the situation was a public scandal. Mr. R. C. Kirk, who was chairman of tho District Eocpitr.l Board at the time when the Otcki Hospital was built, stated that it \/a3 crect-d mainly for dealing with caccz of emergency. The extraordinary star .ments ot Mr. Bolton came to him re a cooploto surpiise. Ho would be plet:sod to aoeir oi one single instance vhcro a deserving person, whether native or European, had been refused admksion to the Otaki Hospital. Laigo numbers of natives had been treated at uhe hospital, and in many caso no money had been received for the treatment. It was true that a few natives had a prejudice against being treated by white people, and preferred to die instead of c°i n S into the hospital. It was their own fault if they did not take advantage of the facilities that had been provided for them. No doubt being so advised it was Mr. Bolton's duty to mention the matter, but tho speaker was sure that such a state of things did not exist. The trustees were of opinion that the matter was not one for ttiem to deal with, and the discussion cloced.