ALLEGATIONS AT AN INQUEST. WERE THE HARBOUR BOARD OFFICIALS TO BLAME?

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1911, Page 8

ALLEGATIONS AT AN INQUEST. WERE THE HARBOUR BOARD OFFICIALS TO BLAME?

WHARFINGER'S REPORT. Was there any delay on the part of the Harbour Board officials in the labour foreman's room in summoning a doctor for Charles H. Leathan, who died suddenly in the Sailors' Rest or Tuesday afternoon last? Two of the deceased's fellow-workers, giving evidence at the -inquest yesterday, deposed that when a request was made at the room of the ! Labour Foreman to ring up for a doctor to attend to' Leathan, who had had a hemorrhage in the labour room it wa« refused, though deceased's son was rung up. The coroner (Dr. M'Arthur, S.M.) added to the verdict of the enquiry yesterday a rider to the effect that In all cases where life and death is at issue , the Harbour Board officials should at once telephone for medical assistance. The coroner added that there appeared to have been some hesitation in this case. It was stated at th<j inquest that there had been, room for complaint in regard to wharf accidents on several previous occasions. The allegations were mentioned Dy the chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. R. Fletcher) at the board's meeting last evening. The wharfinger denied the suggestions made at the inquest. The chairman stated that jie was getting a report from the Labour Foreman. The report, supplied at the chairman's request] is as follows :—: — "On Tuesday afternoon, at 2.45 p.m., the caretaker of the waiting-room informed the Assistant Labour Foreman that a man named Leathan had broken a blood vessel. Thereupon the foreman immediately telephoned to the King's Wharf for Leathan's son, and also telephoned to the Tolls Office to ring up on the public telephone for a doctor and police. The Tolls Office, at 2.49 p.m., informed a constable of the occurrence, who said : 'I will go over j there at once, but don't telephone for the | doctor till I get there.' The foreman went into the waiting-room at 2.48 p.m. (i.e., tireo minutes after he received the information), felt Leathan's pulse, which had stopped; and saw he was apparently dead. The constable then arrived with Leathan's son, and the , constable agreed the man wae dead, but sent for Dr. Henry, who arrived a few ■minutes later. "In conclusion, I desire to point out ■ that the-cha-rg© made against the board's officials for delaying to procure immediate medical assistance is untrue. The board have a trained Ambulance Corps of about thirty men, who render first aid to anyone requiring it, whether working for the ' boaid: or other firms. There are also ambulance hampers, stretchers, blankets, - etc., distributed about the sheds in readiness for accidents, and the standing order to the corps and the other employees is to ring up for a doctor and ambulance immediately a serious accident occurs. As I was personally aware of the circumstances at the time I am fully convinced that the board's officers did everything possible."' The report was signed by the assistant secretary of the board and wharfinger (Mr. Munro). Mr. Fletcher did not comment on the matter.