TO THE EDITOR

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 206, 12 July 1939, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, I was amazed to read tlie remarks reported to have been expressed by Mr. Moody at last Hospital Board meeting in tlie News, concerning the matron, Miss McLean; and having been associated with her in an official capacity for nearly five years, 1 am certain a, very cruel injustice is being dome to a very estimable lady and respectfully claim the privilege of personal testimony. With an experience of nearly twenty years in an executive capacity with the Bay of; Plenty and Opotiki Hospital Boards 1 have been associated with, several very hue matrons and without reservation emphatically affirm that Miss McLean is in my opinion tiie most- competent matron that 1 have Jieen associated with. Miss McLean holds the very highest credentials from the lady superintendent of the Auckland Hospital,' Miss Nut.soy, and from Sir Garrick Robertson and other eminent phy.sieians and surgeons. for excellence in nursing, theatre and hospital administrative work, and 1 know positively as an exofficial of the Opotiki Board that -Miss McLean has lived up to that standard and lifted the Opotiki Hospital to a very high level of efticency. Officers of the Health Department have on several occasions favourably commented on the general efficiency in which the hospital was conducted and have complimented the matron. if Mr. Mbotly was correctly reported in the News, then in my opinion he seems to be a very ungallant and ungenerous person. 1 recall some time ago Mr. M'oody was an inmate in Opotiki Hospital and unfortumuly 1. happened to be an inmate also, at the time. Upon Mr. -Moody being discharged from hospital lie expressed bis high appreciation to -Miss McLean and the nursing staff for the skilful nursing and kindness received (undoubtedly lie owes bis life to the skilful nursing). How can -Mr. M.oody reconcile his previous statement of fact with the loose hearsay assertions as reported. During the period of my association with -Miss McLean as an official of the Hoard scarcely a day passed but some ex-patient expressed appreciation for efficient hospital treatment. I know there were occasionally grumblers whom it- seemed impossible to please, and it was generally found that this class cd patient overlooked payment of their hospital account.

The Imre, statement as reported by the eliairnum of: the Hoard that a certain patient, refused to return while the matron was at the hospital is apt to leave an unpleasant impression and I would like to add the context ol actual facts. The particular patient was in hospital on several occasions during my association with the institution and was reported t'er objeetiounble conduct. The matron had occasion toi remonstrate with him, as readers may now perceive the nigger in the woodi pile. I have no official interest in hospital matters now Mr. Editor, but from my certain knowledge of facts 1 leel that an attempt is being made to crucify the matron and shield an official of the board. Yours etc., J. T. MKItRY. OPOTIKI’S INTERESTS Dear Sir.—l gather from your report of the Borough meeting that the Council has decided not to send delegates to the county meeting in connect ion with the Opotiki-Taneatua road and rail. On the casual remarks of Ml*. Johnson, the council has decided to do nothing to help Opotiki got a decent road! and a. railway. .Mr. Johnson glibly remarked that the Government has promised u.s both read and rail. What does that signify Nothing. Successive 'Governments have promised us a railway to he started ‘‘as soon as the survey lias been completed”. This, needless to say, has been just before election time. Still, Opotiki lias no decent road, nor a railway. Yet the mayor, ancl the whole council, follow sheep-like all the suggestions of Mr. Johnson, and are going to c!'o nothing at a critical period like this. If this is the sort of thing we can expect, then no .doubt Mr. Hultquist will get- M hakata no both road and rail via Ohope or some other equally foolhardy scheme. We can expect no. opposition to it from a council dominated by one man, and he a strong supporter of Mr. Hultqui.st’s views'. Ah, wellI guest Opotiki always was destined to take a. back seat and let opportunities slip, or let her interests be a secondary consideration to those of other parts of the electorate. It has

always been so, and it always will be. if Opotiki does not get out of the rut and dkj something for itself. OPOTIKI ALWAYS. [We must apologise to our correspondent for unavoidably holding over lu.s. letter since last Friday’s issue. We do not consider the question of the road and railway is a. political one. as we have had strong objections from both National and Labour supporters, to the projected coastal highway, as all sides consider such a road! not in the best interests of the country. Despite our correspondent's pessimism it appears to be fairly certain the railway will come to Opotiki. The question of when depends a good deal on the enthusiasm displayed by Opotiki residents for an early start to be made. —Eel. Opotiki News.]