HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2585, 17 December 1884, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held in the Town Hall last evening; present—A. C. Campbell, Esq. (in the chair), Messrs Hannah, Nicholas, Watson, Nicholson, Metcalfe, Jones, Wooldridge, Payne, Ziegler, Burger, Rudkin, and Hopeall the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved of, Mr Campbell (Treasurer) put in four applications he had received for the Secretaryship, [Mr Rudkin retired.] Mi J. Nicholas asked leave to move that before opening the applications for the secretaryship future secretaries find bond, in two sureties of £25 each. Mr Metcalfe seconded. Mr Nicholson supported the motion. He considered it perfectly necessary. The applications were then opened. Mr S. M. Spiers offered to do the work gratuitously, so long as he found it did not interfere with his business. The other applications were from Messrs R. E. Wylde, James Robertson (Dillraan’s Town), and G. R. Rudkin. Mr Nicholson proposed Mr Rudkin, who had been acquainted with Hospital matters for some time, and with the Kumara institution in particular. Mr Burger seconded the nomination. He did not think they could do better than appoint Mr Rudkin. Mr Hannah moved as an amendment that Mr Robert Wylde be appointed Secretary. Mr Hope seconded. A division was taken with the result that there were 9 in favour of the amendment, Mr Ziegler only voting with the mover and seconder of the original motion. It was then resolved that Mr R. E. Wylde be appointed Secretary to the Hospital Committee. On the motion of Mr Burger, it was resolved that Mr Spiers’ offer to act as secretary gratuitously be acknowledged with thanks. The Secretary then read the balance, sheet for the quarter ended September 30, 1884, which showed a balance to credit of .£124 6s 6d, due from the Government. The Treasurer reported that the quarterly returns had been forwarded to the Government, and the subsidies due would therefore be shortly forthcoming. Mr Nicholson inquired if the missing subscription lists had been found. The Secretary reported having found them among his private papers.—[Lists produced.] In reply to questions, the Secretary stated that the amounts on list had been paid into the Bank and were included in the balance-sheet read. On the motion of Mr Nicholson the quarterly balance-sheet was then received and adopted. An invoice for drugs and other hospital requirements was referred to the House Committee, with power to act.

Mr Campbell then moved—“ That the resolution passed at the last special meeting giving Dr. Monckton three months’ notice be rescinded, the same being illegal.” He did not think it necessary to occupy the time of the Committee in saying much about the matter • it had been discussed so hastily at the special meeting and withal so illegally, that it should be reconsidered. As regards the illegality of the motion, it was so recently as on the 22nd January in the present year that it was resolved “That in the future no business of importance be transacted without notice of motion of such business being given.” He maintinned that no notice of motion* had been given ; and it was only fair to the doctor and to themselves that this rule should adhered to. Another thing, the Hospital cannot of itself support a duly-qualified medical practitioner without the assistance of the Friendly Societies, and it would be only right and fair to ask the societies to consult with this Committee in considering the matter of dismissal upon a resolution passed so hastily. Besides, there was a very great difficulty in getting a qualified medical officer for this town. They had had several doctors here before, and they have left one after another of their own accord. They had not only the interests of the doctor to consider, but the effect upon the institution. He maintained there was not sufficient cause shown that the Committee should take such an extreme course of dismissal. It was an old saying—“We know the devil wo have, but we do not know the one we may get.” —[Laughter,] They all knew that to take this extreme conr.-e would bo to tike nr v tin; officer’s character, in the interests of the hoa*

pital, in the interests of the Committee and the community at large, and also in the interests of the doctor himself, he moved that the resolution be rescinded. Mr Metcalfe seconded the motion.

Mr Nicholson supported the motion. The Committee had nothing to do with outside complaints, but only with matters which came before them as a Committee. If the Committee persisted in carrying out the resolution of special meeting, they would be doing a great injury to the Hospital and the district.

Mr Burger said he did not conform to the proposal to rescind the resolution. To say that it was “illegal” was ridiculous; it might be informal. He was glad to say that the course adopted was not the fault of those who carried the resolution. He was sorry to say the Chairman, the mover of the present resolution, was the cause of the motion being carried. He would move as an amendment—“ That owing to the resolution passed at a special meeting of the Hospital Committee giving Dr. Monckton three months’ notice being informal, the same be rescinded, and that this Committee do now take into consideration the advisability of asking Dr, Monckton to resign; or otherwise.” The reason he adopted this course was because he believed the time had come that it was impossible for the Committee and the doctor to work together. Mr Hope begged leave to second the amendment. Mr Campbell was the cause of the resolution of special meeting being carried, as he (Mr Hope) moved twice that the motion of dismissal be deferred till next meeting. Mr Nicholas said that whilst all might admit that any complaints made outside should not be entertained, sufficient had cropped up during meetings of the Committee to warrant them in taking the action that had been taken. He would like to ask what further evidence the Committee wanted than the doctor’s own letter. It had come to this, that the doctor had treated the House Committee and the General Committee with supreme contempt. He supported the amendment; the sooner they parted the better.

Mr Campbell replied that, rightly or wrongly, he came in for a great share of the responsibility. Although the blame was imputed to him of the motion referred to being passed, the majority of the Committee, as then disposed, could have carried any resolution—could have carried one resolution as well as the other. He was very sorry to see personal matters brought in again. He again reminded them of the great injury that would accrue to the institution if the doctor were dismissed. It would get into the Australian Medical Gazette, and this institution might suffer. One place, Tamworth, in New South Wales, bad been tabooed by the doctors, all through similar action of the Committee. Dr. Moncktou had been most attentive to the institution ; he had rightly refused to admit to the Hospital certain chronic cases, aud on this ground be had met with much opposition. No doctor they had engaged had been without his faults, and he would predict they never would get one without. Dr. Moncktou had incurred odium in his endeavour to remedy abuses. The abuses referred to were well illustrated in Dr. Grabham’s annual report where he says: “ The provision of free board and medical attendance during illness for those who ought to be able to pay for them must have a very bad influence in fostering habits of improvidence; injustice is also done to medical practitioners. I have heard of a tradesman, in a lar»e way of business, availing himself of the payment of an annual subscription of 2s 6d to secure advice and medicine for his family at the public expense. The subscription, entitling patients to admission to a hospital, is sometimes only commenced after the attack of illness has manifested itself. There are, however, other abases prevalent. It is not an unknown thing for drunken or dissolute persons to use the hospitals as convenient recruiting-places in the intervals oi their periods of indulgence ; but the greatest obstacle to their usefulness is that they are made the home of aged, infirm,•and chronic cases, corresponding very closely to the permanent pauper inhabitants of an English union workbonse. Their presence seriously cripples the resources of a hospital, while the conduct and habits of many of them are subversive of discipline and cleanliness. In some of the larger towns whole wards are occupied in this way, to the exclusion of more deserving and improvable patients; and'in one hospital want of room had compelled the committee to board out six of these old and infirm persons at a weekly cost of 10s each.” This is what the doctor has been trying to free the hospital from. Mr Barger said he would like it to

be distinctly understood that Mr Campbell was the sole cause of the motion not being carried for giving the doctor the option of resigning. As for Dr. Grabham’s report, Dr. Mouckton was the very cause of having inserted in the rules that ticket-holders treated as out-patients should pay one shilling for medicine. Every ticket-holder had a right to be treated without being asked any questions as to his ability to pay-

Mr Campbell, with the consent of his seconder, would withdraw his resolution in favour of the amendment.

The amendment was then put, and carried, and put also as the substantive motion and carried unanimously.

Mr Burger then gave notice that it was his intention at next meeting of the Committee to move that Dr. Monckton be requested to send in his resignation.

On the motion of Mr Campbell it was resolved that Dr. Monckton be informed that the resolution giving him three months’ notice is rescinded.

Tenders for six months’ supplies to the Hospital were then opened.

Milk.—The tender of Mr C. Curtain, at 4d per quart, was accepted. Mr J. White tendered at 44d. Bread.—The tender of Mr W. Keech was accepted, at 6d the 4Bj. loaf. Mr Kroener tendered at Bd. Beef. Messrs W. Keech and P. Foley tendered at 4d per lb.; Mr M. Murphy at 3£cl.

Mr Hannah, one of the House Committee. reported that there were complaints at the Hospital concerning the meat at present supplied. On the question being asked as to who was supplying the meat, the reply was Mr Murphy.

It was then resolved that the tenders for beef stand over until next meeting, and that the House Committee in the meantime make inquiries. Wines and Spirits.—Mr A. Foldi’s tender was accepted. Groceries and Provisions.—Mr J. MTlroy’s tender, being in the aggregate the lowest, was accepted. Mr F. Payne was appointed on the House Committee, vice Mr J. Nicholas who retired by rotation. The House Committee reported hav discharged the extra nurse, her services not being required. Receipts were handed in as follows ; By Mr Ziegler, £3 ; by Mr Payne, £ 1; by Mr Burger, £1; by Mr Hope, 10s; refund Oddfellows, £1 14s. Total, £7 4s.

This concluded the business of the meeting.