MEDICAL BOARDS

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 7

MEDICAL BOARDS

DR TH ACKER'S CpMPLAINTS,

INQUIRY TO BE HELD

(Pee United Pbess Association.)

CHRLSITCHURCII, December 31. Great interest was aroused in the city by tho following announcement, published in this morning's papers:—"Captam Henry Thomas Joynt Thacker, N.Z.M.C. (reserve of officers) is hereby requested to appear along with any persons who have any oauso of complaint as to the treatment-, received by them from any of the Military Medical Boards before a court of inquiry, to .be held at the King Edward Barracks on Wednesday, January 9, 1918, at 10 a.m. (signed), R. A. Ohaffey, colonel, commanding the Canterbury Military District." Colonel Chafi'ey, who was asked to-day for the constitution of the court ? said it would bo representative of the military and medical services. It was in no sense a court martial, and the order of reference was to inquire into allegations mads by Dr Thacker in Parliament regarding the medical boards. Dr Thacker was also asked whether he would attend the inquiry. Ho replied that he was quite prepared to tender evidence,- although the time was most inconvenient to obtain witnesses. He would only attend, however, if the inquiry was open to the press and the proceedings were uncensored. He also stipulated that the authorities should give him an undertaking that any men he might call as witnesses would be protected from action by the authorities.