AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1604, 22 November 1912, Page 6

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

8 RECENT FRICTION. STATEMENT BY HON, R. H. RHODES. ADVICE TO THE BOARD, (By Telegraph—Press .•'• Auckland, November 21. " During his present visit to Auckland the" Minister in charge of Hospitals (the Hon. R. Healon Rhodes) has made inquiries concernng the administration of the Auckland District Hospital, and in this connection ho has had tho advice of the In-spector-General of Hospitals (Dr. Valintins), who has also been in this city during the past few days. The Minister has now communicated to tho press his opinions of hospital affairs. Ho considers that the internal working of the institution is of such efficiency as to cause prido to the people of Auckland, and he a tribute to the good work which tho honorary medical staff have done in this respect. Mr. Rhodes refers to Dr. Maguiro (acting medical superintendent) as a zeal- ■•■ ous and efficient officer, while he also . thinks that the junior medical officers are a fino lot. Referring to the recent changes in tha methods of administration tho. Minister said that for some time past it had been ■ felt that the actual administration should ' ha in the hands of the medical superintendent, who would be ablo to devoto tiis whole of his time to that side of the ' ' work. The.by-laws of the institution had : accordingly been amended so as to free the medical committee of the many and ' onerous duties of administration.' Dr. Pahst, as chairman of the honorary staff, had devoted a great deal of time to the management of tho institution wherebv ho rendered excellent sen-ice to the public. • The Minister said that he understood that there was now complete haTmonv . m the medical, nursing, and secretarial departments. Taking into consideration the fact that the affairs of the Auckland : Hospital had been very much before the public of late, he, thought it was wonderful that the institution was in its Present state of efficiency. He had no doubt that the new matron would find her hands pretty full when she took up her duties; but if the board and the officers supported her, and the nurses were true to the traditions of their profession, the nursing department would maintain its proper place as compared to other hospitals in the Dominion. Mr. Rhodes remarked that, while he did not like at Hie very beginning of his official work to criticise tho actions of an important body like the Hospital Board, he must say that, as a private citizen as well as Minister for Public Health,--he very much deplored the dissensions that had arisen which had brought some die- - credit on the system of local government, and had subjected it to the criticisms of its opponents. He thought there were a good many contributing causes to the recent friction. In the first place tho Auckland Hospital had for some time been the battleground for local jealousy. ' Then many matters were discussed at the meetings of the board which should have been considered in committee. There were unfortunately some members of local bodies who liked to make sensational statements. As a remedy he suggested that more interest should be taken by tho public in the hospital board elections. It .- would be well if the bulk of tho hospital work could bo done by a hospital committee composed of some five members of the board, as was the custom with regard to the management of such institutions in other parts of the Dominion, and which was, until recently, tho practice of tho Auckland Board. In conclusion, the Minister said he was prosecuting further inquiries into certain matters connected with the board, and ho hoped, as an outcome of all the trouble, that the Auckland public would insist on the business of its excellent hospital being conducted with efficiency, harmony, and i dignity. ■ . ■