Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 2.djvu/226



(APPENDIX M)
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DURBAN, December 25, 1896

TO GOODRICKE, LAUGHTON & COOKE

GENTLEMEN,

In reply to your of December 25th to hand, in which you state that I have given no reply to the question contained in your previous letter in reference to my refusal to grant pratique, etc., I beg to state that I do not consider it safe to grant pratique to the vessels except on the conditions stated by me.

Yours obediently, (Signed) D. BIRTWELL, ACTING MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, DURBAN PORT

(APPENDIX N)
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DURBAN, December 25, 1896

TO D. BIRTWELL, ESQ., M.D. ACTING HEALTH OFFICER

DEAR SIR,

We have your letter of today wherein you state, with reference to your refusal to grant pratique, that you do not do so because you do not consider it safe to do so except on the conditions stated by you.

In reply, we beg to draw your attention to the fact that you still give us no reply to the question contained in our letter to you, of yesterday.

In order that there may be no mistake between us, we beg to draw your attention to the Law, by which you will see that pratique can be refused on certain grounds, and we ask you to state your grounds in this case.

We venture to express surprise at your evident reluctance in answering a question which our clients are so clearly entitled to put.

We are, Dear Sir, Your obedient servants, (Signed) GOODRICKE, LAUGHTON & COOKS