THE AVONDALE FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17753, 12 April 1921, Page 8

THE AVONDALE FATALITY.

Sir, —in reference to the sad motor-bus fatality on Saturday at Avondale, I wish to say that the report of the circumstances appearing in the Herat.r> of Monday is somewhat misleading. It is certainly true that I did send a note to the police station requesting Constable Douglas to ring the hospital for the ambulance, but not as a result—as stated in your report—of my finding the boy "suffering trom serious internal injuries, necessitating immediate surgical attention," nor did I make that statement or authorise any such message to be conveyed to the hospital as -would appear from your report. As a consequence of such an accident, symptoms pointing to grave internal injuries frequently do not arise for some hours afterwards. It is also incorrect to state that I called up the hospital 35 minutes after the first order for the ambulance had been given; it could not possibly have been more than 15 minutes at the outside. I have only practised in this and surrounding districts for the past 12 months, but I cannot speak too highly of the adequate and very efficient ambulance service rendered by the Auckland Hospital to the residents during that time, and it does not seem to me quite fair fkat a misunderstanding on the telephone should be made to appear as an act of neglect or carelessness attributable to the administration of that very fine instifcnfcion. W. K. Cabew. Dreamwood Park, New Lynn, April 11, 1921.