NEGLECT EVIDENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1926, Page 4

NEGLECT EVIDENT

JN MEDICAL TEST. [by TELEGRAPH PER TRESS association.} AUCKLAND, September 21. j “ This is a striking example of the ' lack of proper medical examination of immigrants at Home,” said the chair- 1 man, Mr W. Wallace, at to-night’s j mooting of tho Auckland Hospital Board, in commenting on tile case of 1 an assisted immigrant who is now a patient in the hospital. : Mr C. E. Maguire, the Medical Sup- j crintendent of the Hospital, reported that this patient, a. young woman, of '24 years, arrived by the steamer Corinthie, under the charge of her mother, her destination being Eltham, 1 Taranaki, wliere her brother lived. An 1 examination, however, showed that tho • young woman had been a chronic in- j valid since her childhood. ! Dr Maguire outlined various complaints from which the patient was suf- I fering, - and lie said that, with sucli a. history, it was difficult to understand , how she had passed/the medieal exam- | ination. which had allowed her to re- j reive an assisted passage to New Zca- i land. Undoubtedly, he said, she would | become a charge on the community. | Tlio Chairman said that it seemed i to him that the medical examination J in England must he a very superficial ! one. Almost any member of the Board ! could have detected the complaints of the patient. He was sorry for the parents of the girl. What was to be. done? He did not know. She could not lie sent back to England, because ier parents and her brother and sister were now all in. Now Zealand. The Board should bring this case to the notice of the Government, and should ask it not to place, the burden of this girl’s maintenance and treatment on the ratepayers of the Auckland Hospital District. Mr J. Coyle: “"What is the good of doing that? We have made similar complaints to the Government from time to time, and no notice has been taken.’ The Chairman : “ The Government ■should he asked to shoulder the. responsibility.” Dr Maguire said that lie had mentioned this case to Sir James Alien when he was in Auckland. Sir James Alien had said that every care was taken in 'England, with the appointment of doctors, to examine the inimi- . grants, and he hoped that this particular case would he reported to the Go- : vermnent. so that if tho immigrant had boon passed by one of the appointed doctors, steps could he taken to hhve him removed from the list. The Chairman then moved that he and Secretary should lie empowered to draft a report on the case to the Government. Mr E. li. Potter: “ Where is the patient now?” The Chairman: ‘‘ln the Hospital, and she will probahlv he there all her ' life!” ' The motion was carried.