PETITION TO HOSPITAL BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 24602, 26 November 1941, Page 7

PETITION TO HOSPITAL BOARD

Sir, —As a former soldier I read with disgust the narrow-minded viewpoint taken by the residents of Makarewa and Lorneville towards Dr Weiser. I was a patient at the Lome Infirmary for six weeks and I maintain, sir, that Di Weiser has done more for me than any other doctor here or in Christchurch where I also underwent treatment. All the others diagnosed my complaint wrongly and this is proved by the improvement Dr Weiser has made in my health. Apart from his skill, why should this man be persecuted because he was born in Germany? After all a man who has been driven from Germany and whose brother has been killed by the Nazis is the same, or should be, as a refugee from, say, Belgium, Norway or any other Allied country. This is supposed to be a land of freedom and I de not believe that any soldier coming from this war would be as narrowminded as these so-called patriotic citizens. I think that this petition was arranged by a prominent citizen of Lorneville who has already clashed with the doctor. The staff and patients of Lorneville were satisfied with him, and, after all, they should know. Our boys are fighting for the right to live, no matter what colour or creed, and I am certain they would condemn not only the attitude of the residents of Lorneville and Makarewa but also the shilly-shallying of the Hospital Board. I Let us be broad-minded towards those ! people who have had to leave enemy ; countries and come here for refuge, | trusting to our name for honesty and I fair play. After all, if the police have I done their job no alien who is not all right can be free, -nd, therefore, if an alien has the qualifications he should be able to compete without fear for any position that is vacant. LIVE AND LET LIVE. Sir,—l was amazed to see a report in your paper recently of a petition from the Makarewa Citizens’ Association to the Hospital Board, seeking the removal of a certain doctor at the Lome Infirmary. Anyone reading the account would naturally think that these views represented the general opinion of the district. But although I live in the district that was the first I heard of it, nobody to whom I mentioned the matter knew anything about it, and I have not yet met anyone who was in agreement with such a dastardly action. One person is the father of two sons overseas with our forces.

I think Dr Pottinger summed the matter up when he stated that the war was being fought to free such people as the unfortunate doctor from oppression, and to restore to them liberty and freedom. It would be rather interesting to see the list of signatories to the petition published, as not only would it absolve the charitably-minded from blame but perhaps show that some of them might have backyards of their own requiring attention. I hope the petitioners heard Mr Duff Cooper on Sunday night. FREEDOM. Makarewa, November 24.