DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1181, 17 October 1884, Page 3

DUNSTAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of Management was held in the Committee Room, Town Had, on Monday evening 1 st, tne 13th inst. Present— Messrs M. J. Macgiunis (in the chair), Sims, Miles, Butler, J. E. Stevens (Treasurer), and Geo. Fache (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The correspondence, including letters from the various Secretaries of the Gold fields Hospitals, stating salaries given to tiieir respective surgeons—Lawrence, L 250 and residence ; Cromwell, L 259, .no resU denee; tNaseby, L 250, no residence ; Arrowtown, L2OO, no residence— was read and received.

The Visiting Committee’s No. 1 report was read and received.

An instruction was given the Visiting Committee to purchase a length of piping from Mr Holt at a reasonable price for the drain at the Hospital. Report No. 2, recommending payment of accounts for saiarhs and supp’ies tor the past month, amounting to L 42 12s, was lead and received.

The Treasurer's report, showing a debit b dance of L7l 4s id,, was read and received. The Surgeon’s report was read and received.

Mr Williams’ account of L2 for labour and harrowing in grass in hospital grounds, was referred to tne Visiting Committee. By tho Surgeon’s report it was inferred that the labour was given as a donation., Mr T. J. Miles was re-elected member of the Visiting Committee.. The Secretary laid on the table a statement of all monies duo by late patients for maintenance and attendance. After it was read, the Secretary was instructed to make demands ou all those parties whose, addresses ho knew, for tho amounts due by them.

After discussing ways and means, and as the letter from the Government in reply to the appeal for assistance to complete the water supply to the institution was most ambiguous, it was resolved :—That the question of surveying tho proposed race ho deferred tiil the next meeting, and that in the meantime the Secretary place himself in communication with Mr Vincent Pyke, M.H.R, asking him to ini crest himself in obtaining assistance towards completing the water supply. Notice of motion by Mr Stevens—That tho salary of the Resident Surgeon ho reduced to L2OO, seconded by Mr Thomas Sims.

Mr Stevens said ha was sorry there was not a fuller meeting to deal with the ques. tioninvolved in his motion. By the letters received from other hospital committees ou the goldfields, it showed tho salaty paid to Dr Lewis was the highest of the lot; and as the receipts were falling off to so great an extent, ho could see that they were in duty bound to curtail this item of their expenses. He almittcd having strongly supportel tho increase to the present sum, but in doing so he found that a mistake had been ma le, and he uow stepped forward to remedy the evil. He would be one of the last to cut down salaries, but he felt it was necessary if it was desired to keep the doors open, to m ike the reduction.

Mi- Sima supported the motion because bo was against tho increase, Mr Miles oroposed an amendment—That the figures 1,200 be struck out, and L 230 substituted. Ho argued against so sweeping a reduction aa HOO, saying that it would be better to give a salary of L 250 per annum, than run the risk o£ another election offering only L2OO. Mr Butler seconded tbe amendment. Mr Cambridge was in favourof L'2so per annum.

Mr Fache considered the redaction of LIOO too great, while admitting that L3OO was more than could be afforded in the existing state of tho finances, ho yet 1 bought if a better system could be devised of getting the local committees to work in the out districts, sufficient funds could be raised to give good salaries to the surgeon and other office: s, and do all other necessary works about tho institution. Ho would support the amendment.

Tho Chairman could not see that the Committee could continue to ]>ay so large a salary, tho salary was greater than lhat paid to ether hospital doctors, whilst he considered the private practise was equal to any other district. He had nothing to say agiinst Dr Lewis. On financial grounds alone he would support the motion. The amendment was then put and carried. Three months’ notice of the reduction to be given. The meeting then closed.

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