AN APPEAL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2017, 15 February 1883, Page 2

AN APPEAL.

[to the editor.] Sir—lt has always been my impression that hospitals were what the name implies, but I have had to reside in Kumara to find that I was mistaken as the committee here seem to think that when a patient is in such a critical state as not to be able to attend to himself and moreover not likely to be so for some time if ever they can exert their power of refusing admittance and let him depend on the charity and assistance of neighbours some of whom assist in maintaining the institution. A case in point is one of our residents

who has been a ticket-holder but through hard times and illness bad not been able to renew his ticket when, the same expired but who since has raised the necessary .£1 and applied for one but was refused because he wished to become an in-patient. Now, sir, I contend that although in many cases the benefits of the institution have been abused by unprincipled persons, that is no reason why the said benefits should be refused to anyone unfortunate enough to need them, as I believe in British code that no man is guilty until he is proved so, and that it is better that ninety-nine imposters should be benefited than one real sufferer should be denied succour. Trusting that the committee may see their way to do a merciful action, and that in the long run it may result in bringing in contributions, so as not to materially hamper the funds of the institution—l remain, yours, &c,,

Benevolence, Kumara, Feb. 14, 1883,