H.—3lb.

24

[t. chamberlain.

of my friends as to my wife's treatment. I did not go to the Timber-workers' Union of my own initiative. I had conversations with the Matron on two occasions as to the wife's condition. 1 had a conversation with Nurse Broadley. I asked Nurse Way as to the temperature. Before my wife went into the Hospital I used to notice her at night in bed breathe short. I did not tell the Matron that her breathing had been very short at times and she coughed a little now and then. I never asked my wife the cause of the short breathing. I think I mentioned to the Matron and the Sister that 1 blamed my mother-in-law for coming to my house to be nursed, thereby giving my wife too much to do, and that that was the cause of my wife being run down in the evening. I remember Nurse Broadley asking me if my wife had always been healthy. I told her that she was run down of a night, and that 1 thought that was through having too much work. I never referred to an ulcerated leg. I said it was a bad leg. I never used the word " ulcerated." I mentioned that I had noticed my wife's quick breathing to Nurse Broadley. I did not ask her if she could tell me the cause of it. She asked me if she had suffered with a cold before she went into the home, and I told her " No." My wife told me that she thought her mother should not have gone away without seeing her through her confinement. She was rather troubled about this. She never burst into tears about it while I was there. She felt very much hurt that after nursing her mother for this long time she should go away on the eve of the confinement and leave her to herself. I told Nurse Way I was satisfied with the way she had nursed my wife. I have no complaints against Nurse Way. My mother was in my house on one occasion only that I know of while my wife's mother was being attended to there. It is correct that my mother strongly objected to my wife nursing her mother at a stage so near to her own confinement. My mother did not say when leaving for Australia, " Tom, mark my words : you will have trouble through your wife nursing her mother with those bad legs." My mother and my mother-in-law were never on too good terms. I often said at Port Albert that it would only be right if I went down to Auckland and applied to some one to have an inquiry held into my wife's death. I did not say I intended to make a claim for compensation. This was the first confinement in which I had been concerned. On the 25th August the Matron suggested to me that I should go and see Dr. Inglis. I was not told on the night of the death that I had better remain, within reach of a telephone. I told the Hospital authorities they could ring me up at Mr. Smith's, the chemist, or Mr. Norgrove. This was about a week before my wife died. Nurse Adams asked me if I would leave the address, or some place where they could ring me up. I asked them if things were that serious. She said, "No; but you never know when things might be serious." I gave the names I have mentioned. I would not swear this was exactly a week before the death. It was somewhere thereabouts. The nurse told me when I arrived that they had endeavoured to get me for some time on a telephone. I felt in my mind that a message should have been sent to me earlier. Adjourned till 15th instant, at 9.15 a.m. AVednesday, 15th January, 1913. Thomas Chamberlain (cross-examination continued). I produce the letter I have referred to as coming to me from Auckland Timber-workers' Union [Exhibit No. 47]. It is dated the 25th September, 1912. My wife never told me that she had complained to Dr. Inglis about any of the matters I have mentioned here. To Mr. Skelton. ] I never told any one that I intended going for compensation, though several friends came and asked mo if I was going to go for compensation. 1 have always said that I did not know. To Mr. Mays.] I did not, that I remember, talk with any one before the conversation with Dr. Inglis that I have mentioned about the difference between members and non-members of the British Medical Association. The subject has since been the subject of talk. I have spoken to Dr. Makgill about the difference between members and non-members of British Medical Association. Dr. Makgill asked me if I had any complaints about the home. I told him I had. The question of the British Medical Association cropped up then. This was the day after I came down from Port Albert. I spoke to Dr. Brockway on the same subject. That was a few days after Dr. Brockway telephoned to Dr. Inglis. I do not remember any other persons that I spoke to on the subject. If Dr. Inglis says he never mentioned the British Medical Association 1 am prepared to contradict him absolutely. lam so clear that the matter was mentioned by Dr. Inglis that I can swear to it positively. I am sure that Dr. Brockway did not mention the matter to me on the occasion when he telephoned to Dr. Inglis. I was in the dispensary and Dr. Brockway was in the hall when he was telephoning. Dr. Brockway came and told me afterwards what was said between them. I did not myself hear what was said over the telephone. Dr. Brockway fold me he had rung up Dr. Inglis and told him that I wished him (Dr. Brockway) to go along and look at my wife in the home, and that Dr. Inglis informed him the case was not very serious. T say positively that the question of the British Medical Association was not at that time mentioned between Dr. Brockway and me. It is not correct that I heard what was said over the telephone. My evidence on page 22 is not correct on this point. 1 wish to amend it. I say positively now that I did not hear what Dr. Brockway said, but he told me afterwards what was said over the telephone. I did not go back to Dr. Brockway's after the subsequent conversation with Dr. Inglis when the British Medical Association was mentioned. I went a few days later, and saw him, and told him what Dr. Inglis had said. It was on that occasion that the subject of the British Medical Association was mentioned between me and Dr. Brockway. If Mr.' Skelton informed the Court in opening that blood and matter came from my wife's breast when the baby was put to it I suppose it is my mistake. I never went to the trouble to get a record of the number of times Dr. Tnglis saw my wife.