The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1879.

Kumara Times, Issue 835, 4 June 1879, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1879.

The action of the Hospital Committee at their meeting last week in resolving not to admit the man Mollaumby as a patient of that institution would at the first glance appear to be of an arbitrary, and unfeeling nature. When, however, we become thoroughly cognizant of the facts under which the Committee passed the resolution, we can but regard their action as not only justifiable but in perfect accordance with the strict interpretation of the rules .for the government of the Hospital, the carrying out of which in their integrity is the real safeguard to ensure and maintain good order and the efficiency of the institution. Almost from the establishment of the Hospital to within a few months ago patients were admitted, and received all the benefits of the institution, irrespective of their being ticket-holders or otherwise, and as a natural consequence the funds contributed by the public and also bonafide ticket-holders were expended in the support of persons who could in many instances afford to subscribe—but who never voluntarily contributed—a single penny towaids the expenses incurred in maintaining an establishment of this character. To prevent the funds of the institution from drifting into insignificance the Committee decided, and very wisely, to publish the rule relating to the admission of patients, and at the same time to carry it out to the very letter. The case of the man Mollaumby was, unfortunately for him, the first in which the Committee were called on to exercise their powers in regard to a non-ticket-holder, and in so doiug, although thoroughly endorsing their action as to the principle involved, we must also to a certain extent coincide with the views expressed by a correspondent in our yesterday's issue,'that the Committee have acted injudiciously in dictating to any Friendly Society what course to pursue in regard to their sick members. To the Hospital Committee it should be a matter of no moment what benefit society a person is a member, but whether that member is a ticket-holder of the institution? If not, it is clearly defined by Rule 3 of the Kuinaia Hospital Regulations that he is ineligible to admittance, and the Committee can simply refuse the application solely on that ground. Our correspondent, who is evidently indignant about the matter, goes back to the days of chivalry, when gauntlets were thrown down, and closed visor and poised iauue ended those questions;

but on this occasion we trust that a far more amicable manner of arranging this slight estrangement between the members of the Hospital Committee and the Hiberniau Society will be adopted, with the result of increasing the number of subscribers to a valuable and necessary institution ; and which may al«o tend to cement friendly relations between the two bodies—both having for their object the relief of their fellow creatures.