AN OLD MAN'S PLIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1262, 18 October 1911, Page 7

AN OLD MAN'S PLIGHT.

THE EOPUTAROA CASE: AN AiXPLAiVATION. In The Dominion of Thursday last there appeared two letters, oi diiioreiit dates trow Mr. Douglas liardiner, of Paraka Koputaroa, iu which were set forth certain allegations of neglect in connection Willi tliu pitiable extremity of an old age pensioner, who was stated to bo lying ill and uncarert lor in 11 hut in Mr Gardiner's district. "1 havo at this mouicnt," he wrote, "an old age pensioner, who is slowly dying, partly lor wunt of proper attention, which 1 cannot give, ant having the time or conveniences, I here hein;; no ono else on the place. I reported tlio case to the i>olice, who are doing tho best they can, which was to i-eport lo the Charitable Aid Board. They kindly sent ;i doctor out to tell mo there was not much hope, and that ho should bo in tho hospital or a home;.but I am told thero is no homo in New Zealand lh.it would take the case." in his second letter, .Mr. Gardiner said: "1 heard of Mr. Massey's meeting in Levin, and decided to bring tho case forward, knowing 1 would quickly get tlio attention that was required. 1 gave Sir. Massey an outline of the case before tho meeting, and was told it was a case lor the hospital. 1 brought the case up at the meeting, with the result that the doors of the Olaki Hospital were immediately thrown open." Mr. .1. Coyle, secretary of the Wellington Hospital Board, who was interviewed in rol'ermco t>o .Mr. Gardiner's allegations, expressed surprise that the membors of the board, resident in that part of tho district, wero apparently left in ignorance of the case. !

The publication of the above statements in The Dominion drew from Mr. 13! K. (iardoner, of ljevin, and a member of the Hospital Hoard, an indignant protest at the board's meeting yesterday. The action of Mr. .Douglas Gardiner, ho said, was most unfair. From his own knowledge of the case, (lie position was that on October 5, ho thought it was, the matter was reported by Mr. Douglas Gardiner lo the police. Next day a doctor was sent up to attend to tho eld man, and prescribed whisky and milk for tho patient. On the .Monday following, the dale of Mr. Massey's mooting it Levin, thn matter was reported to the. ilorowhemia County Council, and the old man was sent to the hospital next uay. From what he bad learnt the pat'ont bad positively refused to go into tho Old Men's Home, declined to go to the hospital, and wouldn't listen to tho idea of a. doctor coming fo see him. "Ho bad to be cajoled into tho hospital under false pretences," said the speaker. lie i= dend now," be added. It was a motter for regret that Mr. Hondas Gardiner had eii'leavoured to make political capital out of (he case liy montioninir it at Mr. Mnssoy's meeting at T.cvin. It was dislincllv unfair to the local rcnroscnt.itives of t'.ie Hospital Hoard. Mr. 1). Gardiner's statements implied absolute cross neglect on the nart of the local representatives, -himself and Mr. TnmnoiH-oml ho felt very keenly on the matter. Everything Hint could possibly bn dine when the case was lirst Tcnorled had liecii done. Mr. I). Gardiner should hnvn reported Hie matter loti" l,of"iv be did. Mr. R. C. Kirk =.niil Hint meniVrs of Hie Iwuird were quite satWicrl \"th Mr. 1). 1!. Hirdenpr's stntv-mient of (lie c.iso, and fully imagined that he had don( all that could havo been done.