POLITICS IN HOSPITALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1938, Page 9

POLITICS IN HOSPITALS

PROHIBITION REQUESTED BY DEPARTMENT REFUSED BY SOUTHLAND BOARD (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL. June 16. A request that political addresses should not be allowed in any institutions under their control did not find favour with the Southland Hospital Board at a meeting today. The request came from the Director-General of Health. Dr M. H. Watt. “It has come to the notice of the department that a group of patients at a hospital board institution had recently been given an address of a largely political nature,” stated the letter. “It is not in the interests of patients generally that such facilities be granted, particularly so as it it is obviously difficult to control them. It would be appreciated, therefore, if boards would instruct that in. no circumstances are facilities to be granted for political addresses at any institution under their control.” “I don’t think we should be influenced by this request. If we do it is interfering with the principles of free speech,” said the chairman, Mr T. Golden. “There would be a limit to the amount of propaganda allowed in any institution, but I don’t think that the problem affects us seriously enough to consider taking the steps asked.” It was decided that the secretary reply, stating that the board was not in favour of the request, which was opposed to the principles of free speech.