MATRON RESIGNS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1441, 16 May 1912, Page 5

MATRON RESIGNS.

AUCKLANO HOSPITAL, DRAMATIC ENB TO INQuYrVT , HER RECITAL. ' MUCH AFFECTED AT THE END. tßr Tel«irraßh.-pres( Aieoelutioa.) ■ - Au( *land, Mny ]5, Tho inquiry at &o public hospital con. cerning the matron's'relations with the medical and nnrsingstaffs and the charges brought against her by tho medical staff was resumed to-night. " p ■ ■"' '•

Tho lady superintendent (Mies GrifiithaJ was present, and B Uted that, before the inquiry proceeded, «h 0 irishei-to «?bi?» ?i£s '"f t, the , l>M «l' When she a - J led, ia s t July there were only twenty t..lined nurses in tho hospital, thus prownr'J 8 iwi f«»y-trniued nur.se for eaelr *yird. At the present time there ■ w-ere fiixteen other fu ly-trained nurses, who had obtained their certificates sme her wnval. That showed their satisfaction' with present conditions. When she armed there was tho large number of tliirty-eight iirst-ycar nurses,.-so.that j>iw had tin unexperienced staff to deal with, vtlie clhcieuey of tho staff was iievc-rtl'o'' ess proved by tho excellent results obtained nt the recent State examinations.* me nurses diet also had been much im-

proved. It: was lnulty and insufficient when she arrived, and she at once dreir up a generous diet scale. The result had been to greatly reduce tho ' amount' of sickness among the uurses. She had also attended to other matters'involving 'a" great amount of work. The Resignation. ;,:.% j If it wen possible to convey to the board o.n itlea of tho enormous labour cni tailea by the eight-hours' system,, they, woniil perhaps have some unilcrsfaaii'nig ot the limltifarious duties which sho had had to perform. She had worked avfainst dofinito antagonism from the first. Fverv obstacle, every difficulty, that could Iμ am ! n ' lel ' wn - v lva(! cin J mt *-i»cri-. Aiicr eleven months of strenuous and conscientious work in the interests of the institution, blio felt that, owing to the active and uncompromising attitude of Dr. I'abst during that period and his behaviour towards her at the inquiry on the previous dny, she could.no longer'retain

her present position with dignity. She' therefore placed her resignation in the hands of Uio board. Slio took this slop witli regret, having spent .wars , with mi ho.liqura.blc ami. u'iibrukom redm-sl'-in," )td" nursing profession. - Sli* gave three months'., notice, and added that n month's holidn.t was due to lier. The past few days hail, imposed a great strain on her health, arid.' •' elie asked to lie relieved of her duties nt the end of the month. The matron, who Was in much distress left ths room when "" she linil finished reading the statement, ' HoW Members Faced It.

Tho chairman said that the position wn« rj) awkward one just now, because the examination of tho junior ususos..was in progress.- -:That was one of> the reasons why ho had objected to the suspension,'of tho matron, lest the juniors might bo prevented from taking their examinations. The statements made by the matron were just what he had-thought-all along. H« had watched her work carefully, and had known tho' extreme difficulties with which she liild had to contend—not nnly iis getting on with Boino of the stnfl'. but wifh tho work fts well. He wns satisfied Shut she had never, in any way, neglected any of the patients,' It now vested with (lie board to decide what should bs done.

Sir. Cotter urged that tile inquiry should bo continued. . , '

Sir. Coylo moved that the resignation should be accented; that the lady superintendent; should' receive three months' salary in H«n of, notice, , and another month's salary iiy consideration cf the holiday due to her? ' <'

Mr. Potter objected, on. a point of order, that tho resignation bad not been put m writing. It should be received by .1 he secretary, and read at tho next mcetuifr ot tho board. " • .

Mr. i)yo seconded tho motion

Tho chairman snid that it would lie 'unjust to the matron to delay the matte any , more. She wished it to be accepted.

I'ho motion to receive the resignation was cavried. and it was fiirt'li*! , - decided iliat it sliohls! tnko effect from.the end:of the month. Tlio question of replacing her' temporarily was left in t!io 'hands..t>l , . the chairman of the hoard, the chairman of the honorary staff (Dr. Pabet), ami Mr. V. J, Nowheny.

The Chairman:.ls it desirable to ro ott wi<h tlio inquiry? Mr. Potter: Yesj it is on important matter. Wo liave had clnmaiw ilone to tho' Nurses' Home, and., that imut lw invcetigated. •.: Mr. Pvo: I move that wo doa t. Mr. Coylo moved that n Special Committeo Ira set up to replace the matron. They should consider whelhe-r <h« inquiry should be continued, nnd report to .the next meetinj; of the honrd, anil, .hirer a lengthy debate, this motion was put and esuTied uy five votes to four.