HOT WORDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1524, 21 August 1912, Page 5

HOT WORDS.

DEBATE AT HOSPITAL BOARD, i THE MATRON ATTACKED. \ j A " MOST PAINFUL EPISODE." An unpleasant, scene, described by ono : member as "tho most painful episode in tho history of our institution," occurred : at the monthly mooting of tho Wellington 1 Hospital Hoard yesterday, when .Mr. I'. T. .Moore strongly criticised tho matron of the -Wellington Hospital. On a previous occasion, it should bo mentioned, Mr. Mooro made certain charges ngainst tho matron, which, upon investigation by the ILd-.iso Committee of the Hospital, were held to have been groundless. Resignations. At tho meeting of tho board yesterday, Mr. Moore refirred to d clause iu the report of tho Hospital Committee, in which it was formally recommended that tho resignations of threo nurses—Nurse Moore, Nurse Chisholm, and Nurse should bo accepted, and moved to add to the clause a proviso that such resignations should, at the option of tho individual, take ett'ect at once. One of the nurses whose resignation was reported by tho Hospital Committee, bad, be averred, given up her position because of tho attitude of tho matron of tho Hospital towards her subordinates. Tho wages of the housemaids, as well as those of the nurses, had to be increased to induco them to remain in the service. "Sho is a most difficult woman to work with," declared tlio speaker. "I think that this matter should bo. discussed iu committee," interrupted the chairman (Mr. ..Tames Trevor) at this stage. Ho moved accordingly. Mr. Moore strongly dissented from this suggestion. "This is just a bit of spleen," remarked Mr. D. Robertson, seconding tho motion. "Wo had all this up before," ho added, addressing- Mr. Moore. "You had your opportunity then, and you missed it." "I am not going to bo dictated to by you," exclaimed Mr. Moore, with some heat. Tho majority declared for an open discussion, and Mr. Moore proceeded: "Nurses and housemaids aro eager to enter tho Hospital service," he said, "but the matron has to ask the board to increase their wages to get them to stay more than six month?. It is in the interests of tho women and children in tlio Hospital that I have brought this matter up. We want, tho nurses to receive proper and kindly treatment from tho matron. There is an example of the sort of t.hiii2 I complain of—the matron is in tho habit of inspecting the wards any day, and expects her subordinates to stand aside with bowed heads when sho comes round.' "Fudge!" exclaimed the Rev.' vail Staveren. "Bats!" ho added. Mr. Moore continued. "She said to ono of tho nurses,- 'Tho way you go about your duties ono would think you were one of tho sisters "The Arch-Defender." "Hear, hear," said Mr. R. C. Kirk.. "Tho arch-defender of the Hospital staff says 'Hear, hear/ " said Mr. Moore. '"'Who '"s that?" inquired a voice. "Tlio chairman of the Hospital Committee," replied Mr. Moore. "On anothei? occasion," ho continued, "this woman asked a girl to perform the dreadful operation of washing the clothes of an alcoholic patient—dirty with tho filth of the gutter —and insisted that slie should do it. Tho Houso Committeo heroically insisted that tho order must bo obeyed. Later on, not satisfied with this, tho matron and her satellites " "Humph!" said a voice. "Mr. Chairman!" protested Mr. Van Staveren. ' " , ■ , "I think it is time this was stopped, protested Mr. H. Baldwin. "I call him to order, Mr Chairman, for making an attack on a person who is not hero to.defend herself.'' | "It's all a family grievance," said the chairman, "and it comos with very bad grnco from Mr. Moore. Ho is a member ,of the Hospital Committee, and lie never said a word at tho committee. I don't know," he added with asperity, "whether he wants to talk to tho press or not." , "That's just it," observed Mr. Robertson. "It's all very fine to talk in that way, retorted Mr. Moore. "It seems to bo the special duty of tho .board to defend those in authority at the hospital." "I object to that statement," said Mr. A. Fletcher.. "It's all quite erroneous," said tho chairman. What Nurse? "A false charge was made against one ol tho nurses!" exclaimed Mr. Moore, angrily. "I beg your pardon," replied tho chairman, warmly.. "It was not a false charge. It was investigated. Gentlemen," ho added appealingly, "I again move to go into committee." "You aro quite out of order," said Mr. Moore. "You say the chargo was investigated. It was, and tho committee's finding was a'yes-no finding. Quito a useless finding. Then tho matron and her satellites hounded this nurse " "What nurse?" demanded the chairman. "Nurso Moore." "She resigned," commented the chairman. "Yes, and when she desired to be relieved of her duties the matron refused," said Mr. Moore. "She vented her vitriol and spleen upon hor for daring to complain to the medical superintendent " "A point of order, sir, interrupted Mr, Fletcher. "Has a member of tho board any right to make a statement against an officer who cannot reply in defence?" "It's true!" shouted Mr. Moore. , "It isn't true," retorted Mr. Fletcher, "and it mutt bo withdrawn." "I move, Mr. Chairman, that wo've had enough of this jolly family explanation," said Mr. Robertson. The chairman said that the medical superintendent (who was present) would cloar up tlint point. "No; it must bo withdrawn," insisted Mr. Fletcher. "Will you withdraw the statement, Mr. Moore?" asked-the chairman. "Yes," said Mr. Moore. The Doctor Explains, Dr. Hardwicko-Sniith then made a short lexplau&tiou of his connection withNurse Moore's resignation. Nurso Mooro had como to him and asked to bo relieved at once. He pointed out that as she was a senior nurso it was a difficult matter to do at short notice, as other arrangements had to be made. "There, now," said tho chairman to Mr. Moore, "I hope you will now get to a finish." Mr. Mooro said that ho wanted to add something to tho clause in tlio report, allowing nurses to terminate their engagements upon the acceptance of their resignations. "So that, ho explained, "the matron will not bo able to gratify her passion for spleen and have tho object of her displeasure kicked off the premises. The matron wanted this nurso kicked out just a few weeks ago, and then, when sho wanted to go, she refused to allow her." "Mr. Moore," appealed the chairman, "you must know that it is-most painful for the board to listen to all this—er— vitriol." "Extraneous matter, 6ir," commented Mr. Fletcher. Mr. .Mooro went on. "The'other nurses in the hospital," he asserted, "are so terrorised by the matron that they aro afraid to approach her for advico or consultation." "Rot!" interjected Mr. Van Staveren, in a disgusted voice. "It is not rot," replied Mr. Moore. ''Thoy are so afraid of hor that rather than consult hor they quieten their patients with morphine or somo other drug! Yes!—it's true! It's true," shouted Mi'. Moore. "Worse Than a Bear Garden." "Is this a fail' attack on tho doctor?" protested Mr. .lohn Smith. * "The Doctor probably knows nothing about it," asserted Mr. Moore. It was n difficultmatter, to added, to get tho nurses to come forwnrd with a statement —they knew tho board was hostile. "Will you withdraw that?" demanded the chairman, angrily. "Why should he withdraw?" queried Mr. Ci. Nasli. Mr. Van Stevoren expostulted vigorously. "This is worse than a bear garden." he protested. "Whnt is wanted is an impartial tri- , JmikiV said ill', Moore, Nlua-tonths or.

oight-tontha of this board aro afraif of the matron—(laughter). Sho occupivt a miito of apartments, and expects to lj> waited upon lmntl and foot." Inferring to tho provious inquiry, remarked that thoy hart been brow-benton by tlio mntron, who had resented the proceedings as an indignity, objecting to have her apart menu "piied into by common. trades' mon." "Hear, hear!" said Mr. Van Staveren, "So long as wo put up with this kind of thing, this sovore, drastic, over-bear-ing attitude—you may throw cold water, boiling water if you like," declared Mr. Moore, "but I am advocating: the removal of a woman who is unfitted by nature for a position calling for humane methods. Sho would make a good matron for a prison, a, gaol of tlio olden daj\>j. of the days of tyranny. I movo mj amendment." Mr. CI. Nash seconds! the motion. Thero was no getting away from the fact, ho said, that an undue proportion of their nurses were resigning, and tlio board should ascortain the cause. Mr.. Moure was perfectly justified. Mr. J. \Y. M'Ewau suggested that it would bo something to the point if they could bo informed of tho reasons given by the nurses in question for resigning their positions. He understood that one of them was about to bo manned. "Most Painful Episode." -. Mr. 11. C. Kirk regretted i that tho mat. ter should have teen dragged out ill this way. "It is the most painful episode in the history of our institution, lio remarked, and added that ho had supported tlio proposal for an open discussion because Mr. Moore had said so much previously that the rest should bo heard. Ho exceedingly regretted' tlio attack which, had been made upon tho matron, So far as tho resignations of theso particular nurf.es were concerned, Miss Gilmer had resigned because she desired to/ go home and nurse her mother; Miss Moore, ho understood, had got mi appoint-' meut at Cambridge Sanatorium; Miss Clrisholm was about to be married, In view of these facts, how could Mr. Moor« justify his attack upon the matron? "Jliss Moore had no appointment at Cambridge when sho resigned," said Mr, Moore. ' When senior nurses resigned, continued Mr. Kirk, it was not. always possible or expedient to relievo them from duty at once. They could only bo allowed to leavo before tho end of tho month, at the convenience of the Hospital, consideration being given to' their wishes as far as possible, of course. Unfortunately, Miss Moore had been before tho Houso Committee " "To answer false charges!" exclaimed Mr. Moore. "A Psychological Study." "I don't propose to ask tho board to deal with Mr. Moore's statements," continued Mr. Kirk. "At the previous investigation no cvidoncc was forthcoming to back up Mr. Moore's statements. The whole business is an interesting psychological study. Mr. Moore this nurso'a father, and he had it on his mind that soma injustieo had been done. Other members of the committee, .unaffected by any influences such as might conceivably have contributed to Mr. Moore's stato ot mind, have calmly and dispassionately viewed tho whole of the circumstances, and come to the conclusion that the statements made were erroneous. It requires nothing from nio to establish the matron's position in tho eyes of tho board, her long service and valuable work are known. Mr. Mooro has cruelly attacked this lady, and his conduct is actionable." "I invito action," said Mr. Moore. "His statements aro utterly false, beyond the bounds of decency, and quite unwarrantable. Mr. Moore should have abided by tho decision of tho committee." "A yes-no finding," sneered Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore's amendment, continued Mr. Kirk, was not saue, and it would not bo fitting for him (tl)e speaker) to answer tho absurd statements which had been made. It was highly necessary, where a largo staff was employed—9o nurses—that tho matron should Ixi firm in her discipline, ill tho interests of tho hospital, and see that tho rules were obeyed. Mr. Moore's statements wero tlioso of a man who, though well meaning, was utterly iucapablo of judging the circumstances of tho case ill a dispassionate way. "Society Would Hear Something." "I should like to defend an action, and put some of tho members of this board iu tlio witness-box," said Mr. Moore, significantly. "Socicty would hoar something then." Mr. Vail Staveren said that all ho. had heard of tho matron, went to show, that her methods wero very to what was suggested by Mr. Moore. So far as tho patients might havo suffered under lier tyranny, ho knew as a fact that she had sat by the bedside of a seripfts "case"'for three or four hours at a time. Mr. R. Fletcher, referring to the committee's inquiry, said that absolutely no evidence had been brought ionyard, and tho nurses had refused to maite any statements. "The board," said the speaker, "is not hostile, but is here to do justice, and I, for one, am not afraid of . tho matron, or any other woman. If Mr. Moore will give' evidence I will be prepared to listen. Mr. Mooro's-er—statements-lie was going to say "drivel" —showed clearly that ho was besido himself on this particular question, and in his references to the matron and her 'satellites' ho hod per--1 petrated an unwarrantable attack on these ladies." "They aro not ladies! ejaculated, Mr. ' Moore. , , . ~ "Not a very gentlemanly remark, is it. Mr. Moore .'" 'observed Mr. Hotelier. Tho amendment was lost. Mr. Moorj then desired to move another amendment, but was ruled oiit of order, and tlio board then passed on to tlio next business, _, ,