THAMES HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4624, 12 November 1923, Page 2

THAMES HOSPITAL.

THE MATRON’S RESIGNATION, PUBLIC MEETING HELD. Since the date of the last) meeting of the Thames Hospital Board an advertisement has appeared in the metropolitan newspapers calling applications for the position of matron at the Thames Hospital, As nothing has appeared in the local papers relative to the matter, the Board having transacted the business in committee without bringing a recommendation to open meeting, the public had no knowledge of the reason for the present matron’s departure. It was presumed that she had been dismissed and many letters appeared in the Thames paper eulogising the matron and criticising the Board.-In response to a large deputation which waited upon him the Mayor of Thames (Mr T W. Rhodes, M.P.) convened a public meeting in the Central Hall. Thames, on Friday evening, and the hall was packed. The Mayor presided, and with him on the stage were : Miss E. Wilcox, Rev. Milne, Rev. Beck, Mr W. McCullough, and Mr G. H A. Cribb. In opening the meeting Mr Rhodes said that a large and representative deputation had waited upon him anl asked him to convene the meeting. That his action was right was demonstrated by the large and representative gathering. Several people were to address the meeting, and then'an opportunity would be given for free discussion, but he hoped that personalities would not be indulged in. A motion would be proposed and seconded, after which any person would have an opportunity to speak. He asked that no names should be mentioned. Speakers could deal Witih the Hospital Board as a local body and the hospital as an institution. He would call upon Mr W. McCullougti to address the meeting and to move a resolution.

Mr McCullough said that when the maternity ward was approaching completion the Board took into consideration the management, and was of the opinion that the matron in charge should possess a maternity certificate, resolution was passed dispensing with the matron’s services and seeking a woman with the qualifications. The Director-General ofl Hospitals, was written to and he replied that it was not necessary for a matron to ha v e a maternity certificate. Notwithstanding this the. Board decided to call applications for the position and allow the notice given to the matron tp proceed. The speaker moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously :— “That this meeting of the residents of the Thames Hospital District affirms the desirableness of retaining the services ofl the present matron, and that a deputation of seven persons selected by this meeting be requested to wait upon the Hospital Board with a view to respectfully asking it to reconsider its determination to dispense with the services of the matron-” Eight persons were nominated to form the deputation, and it was decided that the number be increased to that, and so avoid the necessity of holding a ballot. The delegation included Mr T. W. Rhodes, M.P., and Mr H. Lowe, county chairman.