REPORTERS RETIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1926, Page 1

REPORTERS RETIRE

REMARK RESENTED. incident at hospital inquiry. DUNEDIN, May 20. The unusual spectacle of three Pressmen trooping out of a meeting’as ft protest against what was considered to be a serious reflection on one or other of Ulie reporters present, both as to his jurnalistic integrity and sobriety, presented itself at the Otago Hospital Board’s inquiry last evening. The ten<tries which were bitterly resented l>v the Press representatives, and which resulted in them taking such a serious course of action, were made by Dr J. G. Stewart, who had been a house surgeon at the hospital and is now in practice at Milton. Dr Stewart was asked to make a statement regarding the admission of a man named Johnston to the institution, lie evidently arrived a little late, as ho asked whether the inquiry was being held in committee. The chairman (Mr AY. E. S. Knight): No, in open hoard. Dr Stewart: Will my statements he published in the Press? The chairman: Yes. I think they might be. Dr Stewart : Well, I would like to say that in carrying out the duties we were greatly humbugged by a friend of Johnston’s, who called at one o’clock every morning and made a drunken nuisance of himself. “I’m afraid,”

added (lie doctor. "1 see him here at the Press table.” Olio of the reporters rose and denied that he knew Johnston. After Dr Stewart had given his evidence a note was handed to the chairman by one of the Pressmen, drawing attention to the doctor’s renhiiks, and staling that, they considered his reference to a “drunken nuisance” as a

very serious reflection "it one of them. The chairman was also asked whether Dr Stewart intended to apologise. The chairman : Dr Stewart made an unfortunate statement, which cast a serious reflection on the three reporters present. ‘‘Would Dr Stewart” asked Mr Knight, “please tell us which one of the three reporters he referred to?” Dr White: Wlmt has this to do with

the inquiry? Dr Stewart appeared to ignore the chairman’s question, and the indignant reporters gathered up their copy paper and retired. They were met outside the committee door by Dr Falconer (Medical Superintendent), who expressed regret if anything Imd been, said to offend the Pressmen. He explained that he had “dropped a, note" to Dr Stewart telling him that ho had made a mistake. Ho asked the Press representatives to remain in order to see if an apology were forthcoming. Dr Falconer returned a little later to state that the offending remarks had been withdrawn, ft On the reporters taking their seats ngf.iin the chairman stated that Dr Stewart had withdrawn his remarks and had apologised to the reporters. Subsequent inquiries disclosed the fact that no member of the staff of cither newspaper had visited the patient referred to.

The police court missionary yesterday announced that the young wife, who came from a good family, met and married her husband when she was a chorus girl, but she had now returned to her father, who had supported the pair for months. The husband was sent to prison for 1-1 days’ hard labour.