Inquest Into Death Of Mr. Ratana, M.P.

Chronicle (Levin), 17 November 1949, Page 8

Inquest Into Death Of Mr. Ratana, M.P.

WANGANUI, Nov. 16. At verdict that Matiu Ratana^, aged 35vM.P. for Western- Maori, died in the Wanganui' Hospital in Oefober 7, the cause of death being eardiac failure following on the shock of an operation and the- damaging .effect to the heart ofi .prolbiigedv infection. of wounda fol-ljoiv-ihg- a moho r. accidenfc, at Turnkina- on 1 May 16 last, was returned b/ the' Coroner,. Mr. Si M'. Dixon, when an inquest was held today. *.

, Medical cvidence was given by ,Dr. H. K. Christie, who said that Mr. Ratana was udmitted. to hospital on May .16 suff eringa from shoek and loss of blood. The right arm- showed a • deep* lacerated- wound and great desta;uctipn! of the muscles; and. bonefragmentation. Effiorts were made to save the arm by a programnie of recon Shrucftion bnt iiofeetidn. proved txout)lesome, the wounds being slbw im hea-ling, The final operation was eompleted on October- 7- but after. returning to ihe ; !ward Mr. Ratana showed signs of colI'apse and- thougli every restorative was, "used-, including a blood. transfusion,.. I'he heart failed and he' died that day. A witness of the accident in whicli. Mr. Ratana was injured, Leonard John Tantrum, tractor salesman, said that a •eollision o.ccurred . between MrRatanat's-. car and a truckj uear the .Turakina bridge. The car was tcaveldihgi atr b.out 20 m.p.h.. on its corr.'ctisidei. There waa ample r.oom for the v.ehicles ta pass at that point, The truek was on its correct side and travelling "at a reasonable spead. Witness- • stopphd to see if he could. be of aay assiqtanee to Mr. Ratana^ ' '-There. was a maia- Maori in the /roqt seat in an ad.vanced: -«tate oi' in toxicat'ion and three- or four Maori women in. the; rear seat, " said witness.. " One- of these- women stated that Mr.. Ratana, turned to speak to her as, they were.- passing the truek- and apparen' ly. the car swayed into the truek. Tliis would be- eonsistenf witlL w.hak I saAV. "' A statement made- by Mr.. Ratana beforei he- died, was produced by Constablte jl Needtiam., In. this Mr. Ratana said that as the vehicies- parsed he felt a. jolt on the right arm w.hieh was le.aning on. the open window. of the doon of hia car- There were four passengers in" his car whom- he did-not kno.w. They had been picked up 10. be driven. to. Ratana pa to atteud cele;brations. There was only one passenger with him in the front seat, a malo.