KUMARA HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2603, 9 January 1885, Page 2

KUMARA HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

[to the editor.] Sir—l think it was duo to the subscribers, before appointing a new election for the Hospital, to .have consulted them at a general meeting. It is clear to everybody that it does not require thirteen to or loann uia ,f e sl little affair like our liofsjjiulj with the

enormous staff of two servants and one doctor. Three members appointed in the town and three outside, with a seventh for executive chairman, elected by themselves, would be ample to do all the little business required, and we would be more likely to have respectable leading men than when there is such a crowd wanted that it is difficult to get enough to stand except amongst those who have an axe to grind or a spite to serve.—l remain, <kc., Subscriber. January 8, 1885. [to the editor,] Sir —After keeping up a disturbance for months, the majority of the Hospital Committee have given up directly the men they have been bullying and out-voting and left them to do the work. And I for one won’t forgot it when my turn to vote comes. I can’t help thinking also that if the committee was too big to work amicably, it would be better to have half the members and peace.—Yours, A Constant Subscriber. Kumara, January 8, 1885. [to the editor.] Sir—l cannot help noticing that while you give a full report, of what Mr Burger gave at the last meeting of the Hospital Committee as his reasons for asking Dr. Monckton to resign, you entirely omit what Mr Nicholson stated when moving his amendment; and as his statement was received with expressions of approval by the public present, I can scarcely imagine that you could not have heard it, as he spoke slowly and distinctly; and while you take notice of a sentence or two by other speakers, you neglect to notice what he said in support of Mr Metcalfe’s statement. So far as I recollect, when moving his amendment he stated that he did so, not only in the interest of the hospital, but in the interest of the district, as he was perfectly sure that no physician of ability would apply for the position of Surgeon to the Hospital if Dr. Monckton was discharged on such a trifling complaint; that all the indoor patients had spoken of the doctor in terms of satisfaction and praise; that not a single complaint had been made against him by any of them ; and further, that the Committee were here to judge of him as the Hospital Surgeon and not by what they might hear outside. Mr Nicholson also stated in support of what Mr Metcalfe said, that he had been informed by several subscribers of one guinea and upwards, that if the injustice of asking Dr. Monckton to resign was carried by the committee they would cease to be subscribers. I hope you will allow the above to appear in your paper, as I think the public are entitled to hear both sides of the question.—l am, &c., One who was present. January 9, 1885.