CONSUMPTIVES' FRIEND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 14

CONSUMPTIVES' FRIEND.

DR. BLACKMORE RETIRES

GIFT MADE BY PATIENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. In order to honour Dr. G. J. Blackmore, who has been medical director of the Cashmere Sanatoria for the past 19 years, more than 200 patients of the sanatoria, past and present, gathered at the middle sanatorium last evening. Hie doctor was presented with a cheque for £145 from the former patients and with another cheque from the staff of the sanatoria.

The Mayor of Christchurch, Rev. J. K. Archer, presided and with him were Mr. A. T. Smith, chairman of the public health committee of the North Canterbury hospital Board, Dr. and Mrs. Blackmore and their two daughters, and Dr. I. C. Macintyre, who will succeed Dr. Blackmore. The Mayor and Mr. Smith spoke very highly of Dr. Blackmore's work. When Dr. Blackmore came to Christchurch, said one speaker, the city had the highest death rate* for pulmonary tuberculosis in New Zealand. For some years now the death rate in Christchurch had been the lowest in New Zealand.

Dr. Dobbs, an ex-patient, on behalf of those now in the sanatoria and those who had passed through it, said Dr, Blackmore's retirement was an irreparable loss to the whole of New Zealand. In any circumstances whatever the patients at the sanatoria would bo behind the doctor, although he had never courted popularity at the expenso of discipline. He presented the doctor with a cheque for £145 from the ex-patients, and Dr. Macintyre presented a cheque for £2O from the staff. Dr. Blackmore said he had spent very nearly 20 years of his life with tho institution, but iio could not have done half his work without his very valuable assistants, from whom ho parted with regret. He conld only hope that - they would always bear their burdens in life with tho same fortitude that had characterised many who had courageously faced death under his care.