A HANDSOME APOLOGY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18626, 23 July 1930, Page 9

A HANDSOME APOLOGY

TO MEDICAL PROFESSION. RECENT UTTERANCE WITHDRAWN “The medical profession wanted watching,” was a remark made by Dr T. H. A. Valintine on the occasion of a recent deputation to the Minister for Health, on the subject of using some small wards in hospitals as private wards. Referring to this matter yesterday Dr. Valintine said: “As regards the medical profession, I very much regret to say that I said rather an unfortunate thing the other day m Wellington. The occasion was when a deputation waited upon the Minister and nsked him to allow some small wards in our hospitals to be used as private wards. With that suggestion I was not in favour, and in the heat of arguing I was constrained to say something, quite unwillingly, detrimental to the medical profession. As a matter of fact, I said, unfortunately, ‘the medical profession wanted watching.” That was an ungenerous statement for me to make, because I am sensible of the excellent work the medical profession has done and if doing throughout the ’ength and breath of this country. With a population of barely millions, we have 700 doctors, and 600 of these are New Zealand trained: and we have surgeons, physicians, obstetricians, and bacteriologists second to none in the world, and therefore I lake this opportunity of saying how sorry I am lhat In the heat of argument I overstepped the mark. I suppose it is a sign that I am getting old. I have been through many experiences during course '••f my official career, and I don’t think I have forgotten myself in the past. .1 said too much and I sincerely apologise to the members of the medical profession.”