SALE OF PATIENTS’ RINGS

Evening Star, Issue 22447, 18 September 1936, Page 12

SALE OF PATIENTS’ RINGS

ECHO OF RECENT ALLEGATIONS KEPT TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AND RETURNED ON REQUEST [Per United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, September 17. Publicity has been given to allegations that hospital boards in New Zealand have sold jewellery belonging to patients who died in the institutions. This publicity had a at a meeting of the Southland Hospital Board to-day when a letter received from a North Island resident was read as follows : “ On reading the remarks made at a meeting of your board I noticed that a collection of jewellery is in your possession, and I hope that a ring of my father, who died in your hospital, as far as 1 can remember, 25 years ago, may be returned to me. My mother told me that my father wore a ring when he died, but she missed it from his finger afterwards, and on inquiries at the office was told that it was kept to help to pay his maintenance. If it is in your collection I would be very pleased to have it.” The secretary, Mr f. Pryde, produced the ring, and with it a silver watch and chain. The latter had a locket attached, and this contained a photograph and a lock of hair. The label carried the date April 15, 1908. A member: That means it has been kept for 28 years. That will let Dr M'Millan see we don’t sell our patients’ jewellery. It was decided to return the ring and the chain to the applicant.