Christchurch Hospital Enquiry.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 293, 15 June 1895, Page 2

Christchurch Hospital Enquiry.

_ — v - • The following extract from Truth, being a portion of the evidence now being heard before a Commission in Christchurch, concerning the management of the Christchurch Hospital, is very " suggestive " : — Henry Scrimshaw, called by Mr Joynt — I am an undertaker, and for many years I was contractor for the pauper funerals at the hospital. I was so for some years. It was obtained by tender. I ceased to be contractor three years ago. The present contractor was lower than me. His price was 2s for adults and ls 9d for children. (That covered all in connection with the funeral.) I don't know whether the tenders are opened by the Board. The tenders are handed to the Secretory. While I was conj tractor for the pauper funerals at the hospital I buried a good many persons who died at tbe hospital but who were not paupers. There was no fixed fee for the burial of such persons. I used to be rung up from the hospital by the Secretary, who would ask what I wonld charge, and I would tell him £5 or £5 10s as the case might be. ~ The Secretary would agree to this, but wonld suggest an alteration when 1 took in the bill. When the funeral was over I took in the bill to the Secretary. He gave me the order and I carried it out. The Secretary paid me the £5 or £5 10s, and I also put on an extra charge of £1 for commission for tbe Secretary. Mr Joynt — At whose request ? Witness— At the request of the Secretary. The Commissioner — How did the amount appear % Witness — If my charge was L 5 10s it would appear as L 6 10s. I used to give Mr Miller, the secretary, the bill in blank to fill up. Mr Jo)nt— Who filled it up ? Witness — Mr Miller. Mr Joynt— Did you ever charge more than £5 10s ? Witness— Oh, yes ; sometimes £7 or £7 10s. Mr JoyDt — Then who would get the amount over your £5 10s ? Witness —Mr Miller. The Commissioner — Then you mean to say that in every case you charged £5 10s? Witness— Yes. Sometimes the commission paid to Mr Miller would be £2 or £2 10s. There were many instances of this. Mr Joynt— When did the system of paying the Secretary commission arise ? Witness — So soon as Mr Miller came to be Secretary. Mr Joynt — Did it obtain before Mr Miller became Secretary ? Witness — No. The Commissioner — The bills put in on the face of them do not prove that they were written at once. Mr Loughrey— Did Mr Miller pay you, invariably ? Witness — Yes, Mr Loughrey — Did you receive money for private funerals of persons dying in the hospital from friends ? Witness — Yes, in many cases. Mr Loughrey — Did you give Mr Miller any of this money ? Witness — No. Mr Loughrey — You 6tuck to the whole of the money ? Witness — Certainly. I only gave Mr Miller commission on the work he sent me.

(Per Press Association.) Christchurch, Jnne 14. To-day five witnesses were examined at the Inquiry in support of allegations against the administration, making a total of fifty-four who have given evidence on that side since the opening of the inquiry. The case in support of the allegations has closed, except for the evidence of Dr Deßenzi, a former houee surgeon, who will be examined on Monday. Dr Stewart admitted having written aletter sigoed " Tongariro," which appeared in the Star, and in which a number of statements, upon which the present allegations to a large extent are based, were made. Four witnesses were examined for the defence.