South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1885.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3774, 13 May 1885, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1885.

Wk desire to call the attention of' the Hospital Commissioners to the ! fact that things are not quite what they should be in connection with the admission of patients to the Timarn Hospital, We wish it to be understood at the outset, that we do not attach' blame to anyone, but that we desire in the public interest, to see an alteration in tbe system. A case occurred on Sunday which may serve as an illustration. Captain Andrews, of the schooner Reward, lying in this port, was seized on Saturday evening with paralysis, and on Sunday tbe medical man who had been called in to see bim ordered his removal to the Hospital. Captain Clarkson, of tbe Recamia,lying nearthe Reward, had gone on board tbe latter vessel, to render any service be could to his stricken brother-seaman, and he immediately offered to take Oaptain Andrews to the Institution in a cab. The doctor gave him a memorandum to ensure admittance to tbe patient. On arrival at tbe Hospital, Captain Clarkson found that the House Surgeon was indisposed to take tbe sick man in without an order from a Commissioner. After a good deal of parleying however, the doctor allowed Oaptain Clarkson to leave tbe man inside for a few minutes while he went forth to bunt up a Commissioner. Finally tbe Mayor was available, and he granted the necessary order. Thereupon Captain Andrews was admitted. Now we contend that in tbe case of strangers snch a hitch as this ought never to occur. A clearly-defined line of action ought to be laid down for all parties. If a memorandum from a medical practitioner of tbe town does not carry weight and ensure admission to the patient on whose behalf it is given, the medical men should be distinctly informed that such is the case, in order that they may discontinue issuing valueless “ passes,” and sending strangers in trouble on a fool’s errand. If a doctor’s pass will not carry a sufferer into the institution, i let the doctors, when they recommend the sending of any patient thither, furnish the person in „charge of tbe patient (if he be a stranger) with tbe names and addresses of one or two Commissioners, and thus save trouble and . distress to all parties. We trust the Commissioners will move in tbe matter at their next meeting.

A very praiseworthy «tep has been taken by the police authorities in Wellington, in directing the officers on duty to keep under surveillance any youths and young girls observed hanging about the streets after dark, and we trust a similar step will be taken in all centres of population. Of course there is sure to be raised a canting cry that such supervision is an outrage upon the liberty of the subject, and a specimen of police tyranny. But. this cry will only be echoed by a few ; the general sense of the community will endorse the action of the authorities. One of the principal features of town life in the colonies is the number of youths of both sexes who are met with patrolling the streets every evening for hours, and no observant person needs to be shown the evils resulting from the practice. Youths in the habit of walking about the streets in the evening in the first place lose love of home and inclination for profitable occupation. Besides these losses, they acquire the worst of tastes and habits, become bold, vicious and demoralised, and very soon drift into companionships which often result in ruin and disgrace. So far as young girls are concerned,the consequences of contracting this habit are peculiarly serious ones. If they escape absolute ruin, which probably they do in the majority of cases, they become demoralised and place themselves quite outside tbe range of good men’s regard. Such a fate, as no longer to possess attraction in the eyes of worthy men is not one which the friends of any young girl would desire for her. It is perhaps a pity that we should have to resort to police supervision to keep up youthful morality, but rather than it should utterly die out, it is well that we should use this means. We sincerely trust it may prove effectual and that parents and guardians will take tbe bint, and sea that it is mainly in consequence of their lax supervision of young people the aid of the police has had to be called in. Those who allow youths ,to roam the streets at night, or make home so desolate that it ceases to possess attraction for growing lads and lasses, are to blame for this state of things, and society will bold them primarily responsible.

Ix is certainly a pity that Or Delaney’* remarks at the Oouncil meeting on Monday evening should have had the effect of stopping the operations of the surface men on the Public School Ground. Or Delaney asked whether the Council’s men would be allowed to do a day or two’a work in clearing of

tussocks off the ground of another School in town. The Mayor was unable to say, but he interpreted Or Delaney’s question as an objection to the employment of the men, and immediately to remove all cause of dissatisfaction, revoked the permission just given by the Conncil for the men to work for two days more on the Public School Ground. Whether Or Delaney meant this result to follow wo cannot say, but it has followed, and we think all who desire to see tbe Schools provided with proper ground, will regret that it has happened. Tbo men with the plough and shovel bad made a wonderful change in the appearance of tbe ground, and another two days* work would have transformed it altogether and made it smooth and passable.