NAPIER HOSPITAL COMMITTEE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3608, 3 February 1883, Page 3

NAPIER HOSPITAL COMMITTEE

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held in the Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs F. Sutton, M.H.R. (chairman), J. A. Smith, S. Carnell, E. AY. Kiioavlcs, M. R. Miller, G. E. Lee, C. L. Margoliouth, 11. AVilliams, and His AVorship the Mayor (Dr. Spencer.) visiting committee's report. The A-isiting committee, Messrs S. Carnell and M. R. Miller, presented two reports, one bearing date January 22nd, and the other January 27th. The former report expressed a regret the male Avard was so much overcroAvded, there being twentythree patients in a room Avhieh should only contain 13. The committee was pleased with the clean and orderly appearance of every ward in the hospital. Everything had a tone of cheerfulness. —The second report stated that the overcrowding of the male ward has been relieved to a certain extent by using the coiwalescents' dining-room for a sick ward, the convalescents having to take their meals in the servants' diningroom. The committee found all the wards clean and Avell ventilated. The patients express themselves thoroughly satisfied. The Avant of surgical instruments should be supplied as promptly as possible. A A-otc ■was passed to obtain these some time ago, but the sub-committee arc in doubt Avhether that A-otc has yet been acted on, if not they press that steps bo taken at once to obtain the instruments required. The conmiittee authorised that five additional patients' lockers be made. Tire Mayor said, with regard to tho surgical instruments mentioned in the visiting committee's i*c_>ort, that a list of ■what Avas required had been handed to huu. Some instruments had been bought since. He Avould make some additions and corrections to the list and Avould hand it back to Dr Menzies. After a short discussion, it Avas decided that the chairman be authorised to send an order for the instruments by the next mail. It AA'as agreed on the recommendation of Dr Menzies, through the A'isiting committee, that an increase in the quantity of tea and butter be allowed per diem to each patient, the quantity of tea to be raised from : }oz to _oz. and the butter from loz. to l_oz. TIIE FANCY FAIR. The sub-committee reported ou their interview Avith Mr Bourgeois respecting tho proposed fancy fair in aid of the building fund to be held on the site of Dr Spencer's late residence, Tennyson-street. After some discussion it was agreed that the project be carried out, the Mayor, Mr Kiioavlcs, and Mr Margoliouth Avere appointed as a sub-committc for the management of same ; Mr Harkcr to act as secretary, aud Mr Bourgeois as manager. CORRESPONDENCE. From Dr. Menzies, asking for leave of absence from the 7th to the 24th instant, his duties during his absence being performed by Dr. Matthews, avlio Avould reside in the hospital.—Granted. From Mr H. A. Cornford, applying on behalf of Mr Neil AVallace, of Petane, for payment of £1S for 4000 blue gum plants. Mr Cornford added, "If the claim is not admitted by the committee I shall be glad if you will inform me who are the members (if "any) avlio originally authorised the purchase of the plants. "I am compelled to ask for this information as the committee is not an incorporated bod}', and only those members can be sued Avho expressly or impliedly authorised the purchase."—The Secretary said he had at first refused to purchase the plants, fearing that they Avould not grow, but Mr AVallace guaranteed that they Avould grow, and it Avas on that guarantee being made that he had purchased them. —It Avas decided to reply to Mr Cornford that the committee could not entertain the claim. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. The Chairman said that the statement ordered by the committee had been made out, and was iioav on the table. It shoAvcd that the stuns received by subscriptions, donations, kc, and from local bodies, amounted to £9476 7s 2d, including the £500 from Mr M'Lean, Avhile the amount of subsidy receiA'cd from the Government had been only £5710 10s 9d._ There was thus a deficiency in the subsidy of £3705. He had Avrittcii to the Hon Mr Dick the folloAving letter on the subject:— Sir, —As Chairman of the HaAvke's Bay Hospital Committee I have the honor again to address you. I have been unable to obtain any of the official, semi-official, or other coiTespondence Avhieh has passed between yourself and Dr. Spencer in reference to hospital matters. These are apparently treated ns priA'ate documents. Under these circumstances I cannot trace the negotiations, such as they have been, that have taken place between you. I have, howcA'er, at considerable trouble ascertained the state of the accounts as betAveen the Hospital Committee and the Government, commencing in 1877 (enclosed herewith is statement of same), and I have no doubt that when you have had time to look into them you Avill find that there has been a very great misconception. I do not say avlio is responsible, but I think the statement enclosed hercAvith shoAvs very clearly that the hospital here has not been very liberally treated. You Avill find that since 1877 the moneys provided by local bodies, private subscriptions, and other small scources of revenue, amount to £0476' 7s 2d; this includes a donation of £500 lately given V-_Mr M'Lean and Mr Karaitiana'strustees jointly, but docs not include a large bequest by Dr. Stokes. During the same period the Avhole of the moneys paid by Government in any Avay, cither for building or maintenance, amount to £5710 10s 9d, as against £9470 7s 2d provided from local Kources. In Fobmary, 1882, the Government paid a sum of £48(3 19s 8d as subsidy at the rate of £1 for £1 on collections for nine months ending 31st December, 1881. The books (show that at that date the institution was in debt to a greater amount than the Government payment provided for. AYe may therefore consider that this amount AvasnotVvailable for current expenditure. Since that date (December 31, 1881) large donations have been made Avhieh have enabled the committee to pay the accounts. The Government paj-meut of £1030 17s Id made in October was really due in Alarch last. This is the last payment the Government has made. Since 31st of March last the sums that have been raised from local and private sources amount to £1099 19s lOd, and the expenditure for the first three quarters amounted to £2443 5s 4d. The committee Avere enabled to meet this expense by the addition of the £1030 17s Id, which was due to them on March 31, which coidd not by any fair reasoning be charged against the hos-

pital for this year, as it was the balance of last year's subsidy. The Government has not met the matter in a proper spirit. It has thrown upon this community the whole of the expenditure of this year, "i would still believe is is through misconception. At present the account at the bank is £37 Gs sd. overdrawn, and I have arranged for a further overdraft to enable wages to be paid. There are, ot course, several amounts due to tradesmen, Avho liave been told that they must wait till the committee is in funds. I should be glad to hear from you that the Government'will recognise the claims of tho hospital to its share in the amount voted by Parliament for defraying the cost of hospitals. I have, I think, shown pretty clearly that in the past the Government has not contributed its proper proportion of the expense. I understand that the Government has considered that it was paying £1 for £1 on all amounts raised locally for hospital purposes, but I find this is not so. I do not in the meantime suggest the mode of remedy that should be" applied, but would strongly impress upon you the desirability of"making arrangements which' will enable the committee to meet the demands upon them. The committee is very desirous of proceeding with, the much needed additions, and has already collected for the purpose £500, which has been paid to a special account, as the late committee wero of opinion it was much safer than having the moneys for additions and maintenance in one account. F. Sutton. He had not received any reply to that letter yet, but there was a letter from the Hon MiDick in reply to a previous communication from himself (Mr Sutton), which, was, however, not written as from the chairman of the Hospital Committee. Mr Dick's letter was as follows :— Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant. I regret to find you still think my letter of the 11 th ult. justified you iv coming to the conclusion that the Government was prepared to pay all the cost of maintenance of the Napier Hospital and £1500 towards the enlargement of the building during the present year. The only part of my letter which could lead you to such a conclusion was that part iv which referring at its close to my interview with the chairman of the hospital, I stated that I consented that " £1500 should be paid by Government for additions to the Napier Hospital if a similar sum was raised by the district for the same purpose." This, as the previous part of my letter fully proves, refers to tho consent which I gave while iv Napier to pay £3000, or £1 to £1, out of £0000 required for the hospital during the year. This promise was based upon a memorandum of which 1 sent you a copy, wliich states that about £3000 would be wanted for maintenance and £3000 for buildings. But the consent to pay £1-500 for the building was coupled with the consent to pay £1500 for maintenance provided a similar sum was raised by the district. Further on, in the letter above referred to, I state the Government is prepared to pay all the expense of maintenance, but that is assuming a different position ; the £1-300 was agreed to be paid for the building fund if certain other conditions were fulfilled. The maintenance will, if desired, be paid in accordance with the Treasiirer'sfmancialstatcment, whichmakes no reference to doing anything towards buildings ; and you will see if you refer to my letter that my remarks as to maintenance are stated to be in accordance with the financial statement. I regret that you consider that the action of the Government has resulted prejudicially to the hospital, but am inclined to think that if any injury has resulted to the hospital it is more from misrepresentations of others than from Government action. I do not think, if you look dispassionately at the position taken by Government, that you will consider yourself justified in stating that it is continually shifting ground on this matter. A certain memorandum was laid before Government of which the basis of proposal wa.s that £0000 should be raised for maintenance and building, £3000 by subscription and £3000 by the Government. To this you and others objected, stating that Government had agreed to pay all the maintenance in accordance with the Colonial Treasurer's financial statement. To this the Government replies, in effect, that is so, but there is nothing promised with regard to buildings, and therefore if the £3000 is to be paid for maintenance the question of giving towards the buildings must stand over. That is the position in which the Government now stands, and I think you will see that whoever has shifted ground it is not the Government, except so far as compelled by the shifting of others. You state that the chairman of the hospital was altogether unauthorised to agree to find £3000. That, however, is a matter which I cannot discuss. He spoke to me as chairman, and had the secretary of the hospital standing by, who confirmed Ids proposal, and so far as I can understand from a telegram and letter from the secretary, the election to the Hospital Board the other day took place on the understanding that;the Government was to be asked to pay £1 for £1 on subscriptions and donations received. I hope soon to hear from the new committee, either agreeing to the arrangements made with the chairman and secretary of the former committee, or making some other proposals equally satisfactory. In reply to the above he (Mr Sutton) had written to the Hon. Mr Dick as follows :— Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21th January. From your references to your letter of 11th December, it has occurred to me that possibly it may not have been all copied. I cannot otherwise understand your interpretation of it. To show that my view on this matter is correct I enclose herewith for your information copies of that portion of your letter which in my opinion cannot possibly bear any other interpretation than the one I have given it. I am not in the least aware that Dr. Spencer could, by any private understanding or memorandum given without the knowledge of the Hospital Committee, bind the committee and the public of Hawke's Bay, and I maybe allowed to express my surprise that the Government should attempt to force such an unauthorised arrangement upon us, especially when it is of a nature eminently unfair to this district You must be aware that the residents of Hawkc's Bay have done more to _ support their hospital than has been done in other places. Dunedin and Christchurch, you inform me, have provided locally for their hospitals, but you omitted to state that this was done by the magnificent endowments to these institutions. You wished me believe that the public had supported them. The committee are not at all likely to agree to any such absurd proposals as you wish to bind, them to. You are altogether under a misapprehension if you think the election lately held was ou the understanding that the Government would ir.xy £1 for £1 on subscriptions and donations received. If any decision was arrived at on that point it was negatived by a large majority, Dr. Spencer's name being nearly at the bottom of the poll. I would again repeat that tho whole of the difficulty we have experienced is directly chargeable "to the Government, who have been dealing with the question in a very shifty manner, but throughout insisting that they woidd if possible screw out of this community terms which they dare not suggest throughout the colony. The committee has no now proposal to make, but accepts your own proposal in your letter of the 11th December, and expects the Government, in accordance therewith, at once to pay over the cost of maintenance since March 31st, and undertake to provide £1500, provided the committee provides a similar amount for additions. These are your proposals, and I am authorised to state that although we have shown that the £1 for £1 from the first should have been more favorable, we are prepared to start afresh on that understanding. F. Sutton. The Mayor said that the reference to himself in the letter just read was unfair, as it was well known that his position was on the committee ex officio as Mayor. Some considerable discussion then took place with respect to the action of the Chairman in having Avritten as he had done without the authority of a majority of the Committee. It was ldtimatcly agreed, on the motion of Mr Miller, seconded by Mr Williams, "That the action of the chairman in his corresponding with the Government re subsidy, and the financial statement that he has forwarded to the Government, as tabulated and read to-day, are endorsed by this committee: and further, that the chairman be authorised to use every endeavor to obtain from the Government the amount due to the hospital.' The Secretary stated that on the 27th January he had written to the Colomal Under-Secretary as follows : — I have the lienor to acknowledge receipt

of your telegram, to thank you for same, and to inform you that I duly laid it before the Hospital Committee at their first meeting on Saturday, 20th instant. Permit me to place on record the following facts : — The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, when here, at his interview with Dr Spencer, Dr Menzies and myself, asked " if the committee would lie willing to continue on the £1 for £1 subsidy system for this year ?" and was told, "Certainly not, an the Government had taken a vote to provide for their entire maintenance." He then asked, "AVhat it was then we wanted?" The reply was, "That the sum of £6000 was required during the financial year from March, 1382, to April, ISS3, for maintenance and building ; that the committee had some £1-3000 in hand (including £1030 due from Government on the 31st of March last, balance of last year's subsidy), and that the committee would collect another £1500 to make their amount up to £3000 if the Government would rirovide £3000 to make up the £0000 required." The Colonial Secretary then asked, " Supposing the Government found the £3000 required, what guarantee had they that the people of Hawke's Bay would subscribe the £1500 r" To which I somewhat too emphatically replied, "That the people of Hawke's Bay were so impressed with the necessity of immediately enlarging the hospital, that should the Government meet them fairly, as asked, I would stake my head, if necessary, on their finding the money." The Colonial Secretary then requested mc to put the proposition in writing, and he would give it his most favorable consideration on his return to AVellington. Dr Spencer subsequently informed Dr Menzies and myself that if there was any dependence to be placed on the word of a Minister this arrangement would be earned out. Trusting this statement may clear away all misunderstandings, aud "lead to the immediate erection of the new wing, so urgently needed, the very dining-room being crowded with beds. I am, _~"AV. Harker. HOSPITAL TUSTEES. Air Carnell moved, '' That with a view to improving the financial position of the Hawke's"" Bay Hospital, the committee think it desirable to appoint trustees, and that a sub-committee be appointed to consider the matter, consisting of Messrs Lee, Knowles, and the mover, to report at the next general meeting." The motion was seconded by Mr Margoliouth and carried. THE ACCOUNTS. The Chairman stated that the amount due for wages and tradesmen's accounts was about £'010. AVhat was to be done? Mr Smith thought the best thing to do was to apply to the Government. He ■would move, "That the chairman be authorised to telegraph to the Government to the effect that the coimnittec is indebted to the amount of £9-10, and has no funds in hand to settle the current accounts for the month." The motion was seconded by Air Margoliouth and carried. The Committee then adjourned.