DUAL CONTROL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1737, 30 April 1913, Page 7

DUAL CONTROL.

BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK IN WELLINGTON. IMPORTANT DECISION. GOVERNMENT AND HOSPITAL BOARD TO WORK JOINTLY. i At I'J.IIO p.m. yesterday the secretary of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board received a communication l'roni the Inspector-General of Hospitals (Dr. \ alintine) calling on him to summon a special meeting of the board for 3.30 li.in. 'J'hero were present at the, meetingMr. James Trevor (chairman), Miss Richmond, Mr. D. M'Liiron, the Rev. \V. A. Evans, the Kov. H. Van Staveren, Messrs. G. Nash. 11. Baldwin, .I' 1 . Moore, -J. Godber, L. M'Kenzie, D. Robertson, J. Smith, •J. E. Fitzgerald, and A. If. Hindmarsh. Mr. Fitzgerald apologised for the absenco of Mr. Fletcher. ; The chairman remarked 'initially that the meeting had been called at tho instance of Dr. \ alintine at very short notice. Indeed, he was not aware that it was constitutionally' called, as they had not. received the customary three days' notice required by standing orders. Anyhow, Dr. \ alintine was there and they would hear what he had to say. Dr. Valinline apologised for the short notice which he had given members of tile board, but lie had only arrived that morning from Chrislohurch) otherwiso the nntico would have been longer. He explained Hint ins Inspector-General of Hospitals he hull the power under the Act lo call a. meeting of a board at anv time, and had had occasion to call meetings at even shorter notice than in the present Ci 'i?i-i ! ""i' the question of its legality or validity had never been raised, 110 understood that the board had empowered Dr. ilardwicke Smith {tlio medical superintendent of the hospital) whilst at Home to enpuso the services of a bacteriologist at n salary of ,£(100 a year. Tho chairman: That was tho maximum. Continuiiig, Dr. Valintino slated that this new department of the hospital would cost the board at least JiIOOO a year, for (lie bacteriologist must havo ail assistant, whose salary would not be less than .£250, and other assistance, required would, h.i calculated, run the required amount to .£IOOO. What he wished to proposo to ■n i, a was that it should join in w 1 "J 0 G nv|, .mment in making a dual Office of the bacteriologist by appointing ■ m i " r ' c >i C-he Government bacteriologist) bacteriologist lo the hospital, which would effect a saving both to tho Government and 'tlio board. The proposal was that each should pay half the salary of the bacteriologist (XGOO a year) and half ot that of tho assistants which would amount in all to .£llsO, sit that instead ot having to pay at least .£IOOO, tho board would have only to pay ,£575, and if tho Government subsidy were taken in account, half that amount. The Bacteriowould be established at the Hospital (in the new block now in course of' erection), and the Government would hand over the whole of its present etflrfpinent, which was valued at about .£BOO. Iho proposition _was a fair one, he thought, and m view of the recent criticism on the riso in expenditure it would certainly effect an economy as far as, the board was conccrned. That, in brief, was the proposal he would respectfully place before the board, and ono which fitted in with his scheme of having a bacteriologist under the dual control of the Hospital Board and Government in each of the centres. no invited the members to criticise- it. ' . ... f^lu chairman, after reading the resolution authorising Dr.. Hardwieke Smith to engage the services of a bacteriologist at a. salary not to exceed ,£GIX) per annum, said that lie thought Dr. Valinfino's proposal was a'good one, and one that would help to curtail the steadily increasing expenditure.

Mr. D. Robertson was of the same opin'ou.

Mr. L. M'TConzie reminded the beard oi the stand il: had taken on tho matter of dual control on a previous occasion,,' when it had been : pointed out that the' argument used against it was the inability <>f the Government Bacteriologist to handle the cases submitted with enough speed. Whilst not in any way blaming Mr. Hurley for that, was {hero any.guarantee that the work, would bo done any quicker? He had heard of cases where thero had been delays in getting bacteriological reports. ]f they were true, were | hey getting an improvement?' Were tEev helping themselves to something better? Personally ho was with Mr. Robertson in wanting to save money. There »-,is a Scotoh bone in both of 'them thai made them desire to bo economical, but before anything deiinito was dono they would have to communicate with Dr. Smith. If ho had appointed a man. they would have to call another meeting to discuss the position. Ho wanted to know what the position of tho board would Bo if Dr. Smith had mado an appointment, and the man appointed had resigned his position. Dr. Valintine said that even if Dr. Smith had made an appointment it might not bo unfortunate, as ha was sure that tho Auckland Board would jump at the chance of getting the man sciected bv Dr. Smith, when they knew that the Government was prepared to pay half the salary. If dual control were objected to, lie would ask the board to make inquiries as to how it was working in Dunediu, when Dr. Chainptaloup was the joint-officer of the Government aud.board.'

Mr. .lohn Smith felt that they would bo indebted to Dr. Yulintinc for his proposition, as he thought; tho saving that, would be effected would be a one. He did not think tlio appointment would have yet l)een made. lie said that it was a proposition that should be at onee eeeepted, and he would move in that direction. Mr. George Nash seconded the,motion. Mr. H. Baldwin (treasurer), who had arrived late, at this point raised the question of the legality of the meeting, to which Dr. Valintine responded by quoting Section 75- of tlio Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, which set out his indisputable authority to call meetings without specifying any length of notice. Whilst agreeing with the motion in that it would savo money on both sides, Mr. Baldwin directed attention to the great headway that was being made in bacteriology, and suggested that if Dr. Smith had mado an appointment the man might bo a very good one and he advocated the board retaining the right to choose between him and the Government Bacteriologist.

Mr. D. M'Laren drew attention to tho advantages to bo gained by the dual appointment and raised tho point that not only would they have half tho salaries, but with tho Government subsidy theso would bo cut down another,half to ,C2B'l 10s. He thought they should nass tho motion. It could not be said thai I hey had not got a very full meeting of the board. The cablegram should bo sent to Dr. Smith right away. Ho ivas qiiile satisfied I hat they would bo doing I lie right thing.

' The Rev, W. A'. Evans said that ho would like an understanding that tho beard would not be handieapped by tho manufacture of vaccine, or that, (lie bacteriological work to Ik> done for '(he Government would not be detrimental in any way to tho Ixiard. If that" Mere not. .-0. he would agree heartily with the pro-po-al. "Dr. Valinlino admitted that, there had been delays in the past in the examination and reporting on specimens, but that was because there had only'be-en one bacteriologist (official) in New Zealand, but tho. appointment of Dr. Champtaloup. in Dnnedin, had relieved the Department immensely as he was now doing .the tinotixiological work practically for the whole of the South Hand. The appointment of Dr. I'earson, at ('hristcliureli, would also give relief, and the demand on the Government bacteriologist would bs lessened. Mr. Hurley was a most competent otlieer, who had tho confidence of the whole of flie medical fraternity. With regard to the proposal to send Mr. Hurley to Auckland—that. he thouirhl would be a slur on that gentleman. They luid a proved man who had everyone's confidence.

llr. Woodhouse (acling-medical superintendent i said (hat I In l proposal of Dr. Valintiae's only referred to a bacleriolosiit, but I liny would also require li pathologist, which work was now performed for the Government liv Dr. Makgill. Al-Inwauw-hoiild In l made for (hat. Hitherto they had only -cnl a few speciuiens from the hwpilal to he examined bacteriolosiMlly, but what "oilld happen if their wciv in tho couvso of tho routino

W n i- hospital, had to oxamino all then- specimens? If they wero going lo have these men it would mean an increaso in tho staff, and would entail wore accommodation. Fortunately, tliei-o was room at the lop of tho pathological block lor this. As lo the question of speed, it was quite true that they could not get tlio work dono as quickly a,s tliry would like Iho delay was sometimes as long (is two mou'llis before they could gel a report. As far (us II r. Hurley was concerned, he was a very excellent man inHced, and ho had dono his best. workinß up till all hours.

Ml'. Hindmarsk said lio know from insiclo information that tlio stall" was vi<rv much overworked, ant] mcntioncil :< c;isi' which Jind cniiiii under his notice where v t n , "'"I ft was liis bolot that a Rro.it many lives hail boon lost oil account of (ho delay. No know, as a matter of fact, that (ho Jloparl nionf was undors'lnfled, and Unit (hoy couldn't get results tor weeks mid weeks. It was 110 good talking alxiu(: money, whore lives woro concerned. Speaking in reply to Iho'points raised b.V T)r. Woodhouse, Dr. Valintine Raid it could Iks arranged for Br. Ulakgill lo do tbo pathological work for tho hospital A monitor: "Ait tlio hospital?" Dr. Valintiuo said ho could not go so far as that. As (o tho.delay—thcro had been delays, but under his schemo of haymg a bacteriologist in each centre, that would bo obviated. Retarding Hhe room there would bo no difficulty about that.' •J /i'j""-? folllul t,la( ' tllc y wero miderstalied, it would bo qjiito competent for them to niako another appointment. Hesides. the (jovernmont was giving iho toard .£BOO worth of equipment. lit ;vas a "chuck in" for tlio board, to uso ii vulgarism. 111-. J. E. Fitzgerald thought Iho proposition/was an excellent one, arid said that tlio laboratory in Wellington was .i disgrace to (ho Government. Finally the motion was put in the following form:— That the offer of the Government ro tho bacteriologist 1» accepted, and n cablegram be sent to Dr. Hardwicko .Smith to cancel arrangements for appointing a bacteriologist." This was carried unanimously. Dr. Valintiiio thanked tlio boird for tho patient hearing they had 'given him, and assured the members that tho proposition was a good ono for all concerned.