DR THACKER AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 252, 27 November 1914, Page 6

DR THACKER AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

Sir,—The regard for public health which ' Dr Thacker displays is truly wonderful. His audience at St. Saviour V the- other night iwas; much amused ;by■.his.':'veracious account--of what happened when the s.s. Maunganui ar ; rived at Wellington. According to his own account, Dr Thacker bluffed the medical officer into granting an expeditious release of the ship's passengers, by threatening to expose the fact that mails had been sent on shore without being fumigated. Apparently it was nothing to Dr Thacker what happened so long as he and his footballers were not inconvenienced. Presumably, he witnessed the departure; of the mails, without protest, and,onee on shore he did "nothing to prevent. the distribution of the letters throughout the country. The/'facts',' are only brought- out by him at this .late hour in order to score a point over his pojitical opponents. He claims to have ,forc;ed the medical officer into doing; something which* his. sense of duty was- opposed to, and which might have.had the most.disastrous effects oii the .health, of'the Dominion. Now he comes forward '-as', a champion of ' the public health. We look to our medical men to protect the public, and to supportthe, officers of. the. Health Department in the discharge of their duties. Dr Thacker has no reason to be proud of; the: part he played.— lam, -etc.*. ; % . t< ■ -■■■.<;■';.■•■s,■,', %'.- 1 '- '^' ...;;:.; anti-smallpox