MEDICAL AID FOR SPAIN.

Evening Star, Issue 22514, 5 December 1936, Page 25

MEDICAL AID FOR SPAIN.

TO THIS EDITOR. Sir, —There are a few points in a letter written by Dr M’Millan in last night’s ‘ Star ’ that call for some comment. Dr M’Millan charges Bishop Brodie with adopting a partisan attitude with regard to the sending of medical aid to Spain. Such an attitude, he says, is quite unjustifiable when there is question of sending a medical unit, for “ a medical unit takes no cognisance of colour, race, religion, or partisanship.” This accusation against Bishop Brodie is quite unjust. His lordship made it quite clear that he did not object to medical aid being sent to Spain, provided that it be sent in such a way as not to favour the “ Red ’’troops rather than the other. His Lordship is reported to have moved an amendment to the effect that “ the meeting cordially approves of the idea of helping the sick and suffering of both sides.” ■ Bishop Brodie contended that, if any help is sent to Spain by the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance, it should be sent in a non-partisan spirit. What His Lordship did object to was sending help to the “ Red ” forces “as a means of supporting law and order, and as an expression of New Zealand’s belief in democracy.” Such expressions as these can only be interpreted to mean that help is to be sent to the ’’ Red ” forces in Spain, because we here in New Zealand support their cause and desire to see them triumph. If this be not “ adopting a partisan attitude then I know not what it is. Yet this seems to be the spirit in which Dr M’Millan asks assistance to be sent. He upholds the principle for which Bishop Brodie is fighting: “A medical unit takes no cognisance - of colour, race, religion, or Eartisanship. ” But he pleads that help e sent to the “ Reds,” and if he is in spirit with the original meeting held in Dunedin, as this was reported for us in the Press, he asks it to be sent as backing for the cause of the “ Reds.” I leave your readers to judge which of the two, Bishop Brodie or Dr M’Millan, is adopting a partisan attitude, and running counter to the truly noble and humane principles of medical ethics, and of the Red Cross and the St. John Ambulance.—l am, etc., Audi Alteram Pabtem. December 4.