The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1891. Coroners' Inquests

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 43, 8 October 1891, Page 2

The Feild i ng Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1891. Coroners' Inquests

TiCERE has been a good deal of public comment on the fact that no surgeon was called in to give evidence as to the cause of the death of the late Donald MeKenzie, at the inquest which was held on the body at Palmerston North. We may state at once that this was owing to no remis&ness on the part of the Coroner, Mr Snelson, but was entirely due to the false economy of the Government who have now forbidden Coroners to call in medical men, as witnesses, unless under very exceptional circumstances. The first question that naturally is " What are exceptional circumstances ?" and out of that question there arises another " Who is to say the circumstances are exceptional ?" certainly not the persons nearest at the time of an accident which ends fatally ; certainly not the constable who next appears on the scene, and certainly not the Coroner who receives in the beginning but the baldest details. Of course if there is a surgeon available at the time of

an accident and his professional services have been utilised, the matter is simple enough and perfectly in order, but where no surgeon was on the spot, nor in attendance immediately afterwards, nor one who viewed the body and declared at the inquest the character of the injuries inflicted on the deceased person, we think people are quite justified in asking the reason why. Where there are so many fatal accidents as there are, unhappily, in this colony, we think it is mistaken economy on the part of the Goyernment to deprive the Coroners of the services of gentlemen whose evidence, as a rule, is the soundest and most reliable in such cases. As a matter of public safety we think the sooner the absurd rule which now obtains is cancelled the better, or the value to be placed on the results of Coroners inquests will be very trifling; As it is, too many people already look upon them with doubt and suspicion.

The speech of the Hon. the Premier, delivered last night to his constituents at Wanganui, consisted of an elaborate defence of the policy of his Ministry, and offered a justification of the action of his Government during the session. There was a large audience, -which accorded the Premier a yote of confidence at the close of his address.