“GRAVE REFLECTIONS.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16811, 14 August 1922, Page 7

“GRAVE REFLECTIONS.”

HOSPITAL BOARD CONCERNED. MAYOR’S REMARKS AT BAZAAR. What ho styled ns “ grave reflections on the Hospital Board” -were broughtbefore tlio notice of a special meeting of the Board this afternoon by the Rev J. K. Archer. “Dr Thacker made them and 1 think some reply should he made to him,” sAid Mr Archer. “There has been a Lewisham fair to raise funds' for a private hospital- No member wishes to criticise that. There is so much suffering in the world that all will rejoice over efforts to alleviate it. The ‘ Lyttelton Times’ reports that T>r Thacker was opening this fair when he made these grave reflections on this institution —that is. of course, assuming that the report is correct. He said:

■ AY hen the poor become sick they had to go to the General Hospital where they had no say in the choice of the doctor, lost their -identity and became mere numbers.’ N\ e cannot, afford to allow that to go forth as a correct statement in regard to this fine institution. T believe that it is absolutely true that any patient coming into this institution can be visied by his or her own doctor.” Voices: Yes! Visited.

Mr Archer; “ Yes. T do not say treated. Then it is not correct to say that the patients who come here lose their identity, becoming numbers as mere criminals. All the patients who come here are treated as men. women and children. I think that Dr Thacker must be very ill-informed about this institution and that ho should withdraw that, serious reflection on the very fine work thus institution is out to do.” The. chairman (Mr H. J. (Kiev): ' I think that this institution has too high a reputation for Dr Blackmore to do it anv harm.” There was loud laughter at this mistake in the name. The chairman corrected himself saying that he was afraid that lie had Dr Blackmore on the brain. Mr Otlev proceeded that the Board could very well stand behind the reputation of the institution. He was sure that the patients who passed through the hospital would not offer the same opinion so unfortunately offered at the bazaar. Discussion then dropped.