A NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL SCANDAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 160, 17 October 1881, Page 4

A NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL SCANDAL.

TO THE EDITOE Ol 1 THE STAB.

81s, — The following has come under my notice, and I think in justice to New Plymouth it ought to be made public, so that the same may be favoured into. After many other afflictions, a workman on the railway line had the misfortune to have his wife taken ill. On consulting with the doctor here, she was sent to New Plymouth. The husband left her there well cared for; a few days after he received notice that she was dead. He returned to New Plymouth, found every preparation made by the hospital authorities for her funeral. No instructions of any kind were given by him on this head, but he was somewhat astonished to see three mourning carriages, for he had no friends there. Judge, however, the man's surprise when he had a bill of £22 presented for funeral expenses. Thinking he was imposed upon, he went to a lawyer, whose advice was to "pay it;" thus then, the poor fellow had lawyers' advice to pay for as well. Mr. Bassett, with well-known liberality, gave tbe man #5, and by other friendly assistance, the amount was paid This is the tale I hear, and I have every reason to believe there is too much truth in it. The New Plymouth hospital committee may be able to offer some explanation, if not they would do well to investigate the charge; otherwise a strong prejudice will be created against the New Plymouth hospital, which should, and must be, the public hospital for the Hawera county for many years to come. If working men are to be imposed with the paraphernalia of a public funeral for members of their families against their wish, the quicker the undertaker is checked the better. The feneral management charge is only ss. a week, and every attention is paid to patients. These remarks, therefore, apply, only to funeral management. "Pro "Bono I^vsijcd.