DR. THACKER'S CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1918, Page 5

DR. THACKER'S CHARGES.

AGAINST MEDICAL BOARDB. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SfcGlßWJlrtj !' INDIGNATION. * j By Telegraph—Press Association/1. } Christchurch, Last Night. ' :•« The court of enquiry set up to invest!* gate the charges made by Dr, Thacker 'j and others, against the, conduct of the 1 military medical boards in Canterbury, r i»; continued its sitting to-day, Major Loach presiding. An application by the president of the ? .j Second Division League to produce eti- J dence from Second Division' reservists :j dissatisfied with their medical elassM- ' ■ cation, was declined, the court holding that it had no jurisdiction, *1 The same pronouncement was made.in J' the cases of Captain E. Pridham, of Wa- '• nganui, who desired to give evidence re- il garding the conduct of Wellington and H i Otago Medical Boards. ' 'Tj The complaints of several reservists- \ ' were ruled out, as being outside the or< ' der of reference. " -'j William Alfred Patrick Mills conn J plained that he had been wrongly claasi* ■ "A lied, and that the medical examiners hid S not taken sufficient time over his cape. • 1 Lieut.-Colonel R. M. Gunn and Majofr C. R. Blackett, N.Z.M.C., said the exsm* ; ination was thorough and the classifiaa* %'i tion correct. ,h Robert William Ellis, who complained on similar grounds, was advised to placo 4i ! his case before the officer commanding' ,•! the district. "j? Henry Emanuel, the essence of whoss i case was that he had not been ly examined, was next heard. , *3 Captain Lester, N.Z.M.C.> said thafi Vj complainant was not fully examined, aif ' he took Dr. Foster's certificate, that re« servist was suffering from chronic pros* * talitis, as sufficient proof of his partiou ?,S lar condition. " . 'J Dr. Thacker then brought up the calS V# of Bugler Burrows, but Major Greason, l i- ' representing the Defence Department) , " said it concerned the Assistant Direotoj? of Medical Services, and that official ditfl' not come under the heading of "Medical t ,A Board" or "Medical Officers." I J The court, after consideration, deoidedf 1 ■ to hear the case. . ,^ Major Gresson then asked for an ad* journment till Saturday, as he had only, received notice of the case an hour be« fore, and it was the most serious of alt * so far. ' i Dr. Thacker agreed to the adjourn' i ment. If he could get a witness from; '< Awapuni he wanted the case given every; publicity, as he intended to ask Mr* Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to grant Royal Commission into the whole quea* tion of military medical conduct. , Lieut.-Colonel McGibbon, Assistant Df-t rector of Medical Services, rose and pso4 ' ceeded against Dr. Thacker. being allowed! to play to the gallery in that manner* v "This man," he said, "has reflected-anl ' my conduct in Parliament, under the( i cloak of privilege, and has also under - statements against me in this court, E ! intend to protect myself, and shall seek: ' my remedy in the Supreme Court* US' necessary." The court adjourned till Saturday*