KUMARA HOSPITAL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2702, 20 May 1885, Page 2

KUMARA HOSPITAL.

THE APPOINTMENT OF SURGEONSUPERINTENDENT. The adjourned meeting of the Hospital Committee for the further consideration of the appointment of Sur-geon-Superintendent to the Hospital, and to receive the report of the subcommittee appointed to draw up a statement aud submit it to a lawyer, was held in the Town Hall last evening. There were present—Mr Burger (in the chair), Messrs Voysey, Hannah, Wildridge, Rudkin, Ziegler, Watson, Hannan, Garguilo, Wooldridge, Nicholson, Hope, and Metcalfe ; in fact, all the members of Committee. . There was also a large attendance of the public. The Secretary read the minute of the previous sitting adjourning the meeting, and also the resolution appointing a sub-committee. Mr Burger, one of the members appointed, reported that the sub-com-mittee met last Tuesday, immediately after the sitting of the general Committee, and drew up a statement of the whole facts of the case relative to the dismissal of Dr. Monckton, and the proceedings relative to the intended appointment of another Surgeon-Super-intendent • and that the sub-committee had forwarded the same to Mr Warner, solicitor, Grey mouth. The report and outward correspondence relative thereto were then read, and the same approved of. The reply of Mr Warner had been received and was next read, as follows: Opinion (Rcjmara Hospital Committee and Dr. Monckton). After careful consideration of the facts communicated to me by the Committee, I am of opinion as follows : 1. That the Committee now in office are bound by the terms of the agreement, dated 26th November, 1884, entered into with Dr. Monckton, and that on the construction to be placed on such agreement depends the whole question at issue between the Committee and the Doctor. 2. That under the agreement there is no necessity that the three months' notice agreed to be given should terminate at the end of a current year ; but that the doctor's holding of the office is determinable by three months' notice to quit at any period of the year. I cannot but admit that the question is one of some difficulty, which would have been materially lessened had the last clause of the agreement been more explicitly worded. In the construction I have placed upon the clause, I am guided by an English case and a New Zealand case (Ryan v. Jeukinson, and Christie v. The National Bank of New Zealand), both of which are decidedly in favour of the view I have taken. Jno. E. Warner. 15th May, 1885. The Chairman said he thought the reply of Mr Warner was plain, distinct, and clear. The Committee, therefore, would be justified in now making the final appointment of medical officer. He moved—" That this Committee having received a legal opinion on the subject now proceed to the election of a Surgeon-Superintendent." Mr Hannah seconded the motion. Mr Metcalfe: Do you think, Mr Chairman, that that is sufficient; we have only the opinion of one legal gentleman as opposed to another] Mr Hannan bpgged to move an amendment. He thought they should now obtain the opinion of the AttorneyGeneral. The Government were partners in the Hospital management, and by applying to Government they would beable to get the Attorney-General's opinion on the subject gratuitously. He would move as an amendment—- " That before proceeding further in the matter of the appointment of a medical officer the opinion of the Attorney-Gen-eral be obtained." Mr Hope objected to any further delay in the matter; the Committee had more applicants for the appointment than on any previous occasion. He thought they should proceed with the appointment. Mr Nicholson seconded the amendment. Mr Waruer admitted that the matter was surrounded with difficulties. They had only one opinion against another.

Mr Hannah thought they had carried the farce on long enough. The Chairman said he was surprised at Mr Nicholson and other members taking such a stand. Some behaved like a lot of school hoys. Mr Warner's remarks ahcut the matter being surrounded with some difficulty merely applied to the last clause of the agreement with the doctor, which might have been more explicitly worded. A division was called for and taken on the amendment, with the following result:— & Ayes, 5. Noes, 8. Woold ridge Burger Haunan "Vovsey Garguilo Hannah Nicholson Wildridge Metcalfe Rudkin Ziegler Watson Hope. The Chairman then declared the amendment lost. Mr Hannan now moved a further amendment—" That if any lawsuit arises, none of the Hospital funds be devoted to the purpose." The Chairman ruled this amendment out of order. It would be ridiculous if the Secretary, as an officer of the Committee, whilst doing his duty for the Committee, were summoned by any person and have to pay his own expenses. Mr Hannan : How many members does it require to elect a doctor ? The Chairman : Seven. Mr Hannan: Then there will be enough without me. [Mr Hannan then vacated his seat at the table.] Mr Metcalfe then rose to move another amendment—" That the resolution giving the doctor three months' notice be expunged from the minutes." The Chairman ruled this amendment oat of order. Such a motion could not not be entertained without notice of motion being given to rescind a resolution passed and confirmed at previous meetings. The motion sought to be expunged had been confirmed, and could not be upset without due notice to rescind it. Mr Nicholson rose to speak to the amendment. The Chairman said that there was nothing before the meeting. Mr Nicholson: Then I second the amendment. The Chairman: I have ruled the motion out of order. [Messrs Garguilo and Nicholson here rose from their seats and retired.] The Chairman announced that Mr Metcalfe had tendered his resignation as a member of the Committee, and moved that the consideration of its acceptance be held over till next meeting. Tt would give Mr Metcalfe time to reconsider the matter. This course was seconded and adopted. The Chairman then put the original motion to proceed with the appointment of medical officer, which was carried. The Secretary then read over the list of applicants. He had also received another one since. It was ruled that the last application could not be entertaiued. The applications were then reduced to two, as previously determined, viz., Messrs Davy and Watson. The Secretary here read a letter from Dr. Watson, stating that he had since an offer from the townspeople of Clinton, Ol ago, to give him a bonus to stay another year there, which he had accepted. The Chairman then begged to move "That Dr. Davy be finally appointed as Surgeon - Superintendent to the Kumara Hospital." Mr Hope would like to know, before putting the resolution, if Dr. Davy would be willing to come. The motion was seconded by Mr Hannah, and carried unanimously. The Chairman now begged to move—- " That the Secretary send an urgent telegram to Dr. Davy first thing in the morning informing him of the appointment, asking him when he can come, and requesting him to do so as soon as possible." The motion was seconded by Mr Hannah, and put and carried. This concluded the business of the adjourned meeting, [The ordina.y fortnightly meeting of the Committee was then held. Our report will be given to-morrow,]