KUMARA HOSPITAL.

Kumara Times, Issue 2749, 14 July 1885, Page 2

KUMARA HOSPITAL.

PUBLIC MEETING of SUBSCRIBERS. A public meeting of subscribers to the Kumara Hospital, called by advertisement by Messrs G. R. Rudkin, John Hannah, and John Wildridge, members of the House Committee to that institution, was held in the Town Hall last evening. There was' a very large attendance of subscribers, and the public also, who were freely admitted'and welcomed. On the motion of Mr W. Morris, W. Barnett, Esq., an ex-Mayor, was called upon to preside. The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to discuss the present position of affairs in connection with the Hospital. They were all aware of the position in which the Committee were placed by the action of Dr. Monckton in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The judgment of the Court having gone against them, it was the wish of the Committee now to lay the matter before the subscribers and the public. He would therefore call upon some member of the Hospital House Committee to state their case. Mr G. R. Rudkin, who was received with applause, said that this meeting was called to discuss the question of the Committee's action in regard to Dr. Monckton. Most persons would remember that to test the opinion of the subscribers upon their resolution to dismiss Dr. Monckton, the Medical Officer to the institution, a fresh election for members of the Hospital Committee had taken place, with the result that all members who had voted for Dr. Monckton's dismissal had been reelected on the committee of management by large majorities. This was regarded as a fair test of public opinion on the matter. The Committee had met tonight prior to this meeting and had resolved to take the matter into the Supreme Court, and they would now leave it to the subscribers to say whether they endorsed this action.— [Applause. - ] Mr H. Burger said that as one of the principal movers in this matter he had a few words to say in explanation. Dr. Monckton gave satisfaction at first, but gradually, got into disfavour by his uncouth conduct towards certain patients and certain members of the Hospital Committee. The Committee had it in their power to terminate the agreement with the doctor earlier ; but, to test the feeling of the public, the Committee resolved to resign in a body. After the reelection of those members of Committee by such a large majority who were for dismissing Dr. Monckton, the new Committee, before making the final appointment of a successor to the surgeon-superintcndency, took advice from the late Mr Warner as to whether the agreement subsisting between the Committee and Dr. Monckton enabled the Committee to discharge the doctor at any time at three months' notice. As they were all well aware, that gentleman gave it as his opinion that the Committee could do so ; and he (Mr Burger) was quite certain that if Mr Warner had been alive now and well enough the late judgment in the Resident Magistrate's Court would have been different from that now recorded. —[Hear, hear.] He regretted to state Mr Lewis, who was engaged to conduct the defence for the Committee, had not acted as they firstwished him, that was, to take evidence for the defence. If this had been done, he had no doubt the judgment of the Court on that occasion would not have been against the Committee. He would say that it was thoroughly understood by their late Surgeon-Superin-tendent that three months' notice meant at any time.—[Applause.] They had only forty-eight hours' notice before the case was heard, or they might have been better prepared for defending the action. If the subscribers approved, they intended now to appeal to a higher Court. But he must remind thorn that no fresh evidence could be taken ; the Court could only consider the words of the agreement and the decision of the Court. The speaker then referred to the telegrams which appeared in the Kumara Times from its special correspondent in Wellington, most of which he denounced as being false, and very indiscreet, seeing that the case was then in Court. Referring to the newlyelected Surgeon-Superintendent, he said it was very fortunate for the district that Dr. Davy had not been frightened away—[Hear, hear] —he was nearly packing up again at first; but he was very glad to sny he remained, and he was well liked.—[Hear, hear, and applause.]

Mr Wru. Morris, addressing- the Chairman and gentlemen, said it was not (ifii-n they yot so large a meeting, especially nn ITospitil matters. Tim resolution he hud to propose was " That this meeting of subscribers ap-

proves oE the course taken by the Hospital Committee in nsing their discretion in the mutter of terminating Dr. Mo nek ton's engagement, and that the subscribers have every confidence in their management, of the institution." He-was an old Hospital Committeeman, and he was always under the impression that when a man pnichased a yearly or half-yearly ticket t<> entitle him to admission to the Hospital in case of accident, or sickness, that he had a right to go to that institution without being questioned by the medical officer as to whether he was a muried man or a single man, or " How do you think I'm to live, a married man and a family?" The gentleman previously in charge of that institution was a gentleman in every respect. When he came across a married man who needed much attention, he, Dr. Porter, had said—- " You must go. the Hospital, where I can see you twice a day." He was not like some geutleman who wanted to get his hand into their pockets in every possible way. Thus it was he used every endeavour to get the gentlemen on the Committee who now hold the position as members. The majority of the subscribers were in favour of dismissing Doctor Monckton. He must say he never was more disgusted "when he heard of the action the gentleman had taken who holds the position as member for the district, who had prostituted the position he holds by pandering to a single individual. He well recollected him stating 'at a -public meeting at Dillman's Town that he would not do anything that a private individual might ask him. When the unfortunate man Hyndman was turned out or walked out of the Hospital, that gentleman said he would never subscribe a shilling to the Hospital agfain ; and he did not see what right he had to interfere in hospital matters, not being a subscriber to that institution.— [Applause.] He concluded, by moving the resolution. The resolution was seconded by Mr John Love, and put and carried unanimously, with prolonged applause. Mr John Caldwell said that after the remarks that had fallen from Mr Morris he did not think it was necessary for him to say much. He moved—- " That this meeting approves of the action of the Committee in taking the case to the Supreme Court for appeal, and pledges itself to support the Committee in this action."

The resolution was seconded by Mr F. Payne, and carried unanimously. [At tliis stage of the proceedings the feeling of many of the audience against the late Surgeon-Superintendent to the Hospital became very strong, and there were cries of "Put old Monckton out!" " Put the out!" followed by three groans.]

Mr John White said he had a resolution put into his hands, which was "That a Committee be farmed for the purpose of organising a defence fund, and also for taking measures to assist in the defence of the case." They were all aware of the facts of the case. He thought the subscribers were bound to support the Committee in their action. The Committee had acted openly; there had been no hole-and-corner meetings. But the same thing has occurred in Kumara previously: party clique had a great deal to do with the support of Dr. Monckton; men supported him who had no more respect for him than his dog had, yet there were men on that Committee who were honest men ; but he (he was looking at him now) who could not make an honest living by his business, but was always ready to rob churches, schools, and charitable institutions..— [Applause.] Well, he would say no morp; the matter was all in a nutshell; he would now move the resolution.

The resolution was seconded by Mr Gibbons, and carried unanimously, [ amidst great applan.se. Mr Jeremiah Gilbert said he had been called upon to move the fourth resolution, which was—" That this meeting deprecates the action of the correspondent of the KmiARA Times in publishing statements injurious to the the Committee while an action was pending in the Resident Magistrate's Court, as the substance of such correspondence was quite at variance with the communications received from the Government." He hud hitherto taken very little part in Hospital matters ; nevertheless he respected those gentlemen who had conducted the institution. After the old Committee resigned the present Committee-men had been elected by very large majorities to carry out. the wishes of the subscribers, and he firmly believed that the real meaning of the agreement between the Committee and the late Surgeon-Superin-tendent wa« 'hat, it should be terminated at tince months at any time. The nioiiun was secv (led by Mr John Henderson, --ind eirried unanimously.

The Chairman drew attention to the f ,cfc that a resolution had biwn \y.i»-i>(l to form a Committee, and suggested that nominations be now taken. This course was adopted by Mr White moving a resolution to that effect. - The following gentlemen were then nominated to form said Committee :- Messsrs W. Morris, John White John Caldwell, Geo. Anderson, John Davidson, Amos Wilhy, B. Gibbons, F. Payne, James Biggs (G.eeustone), John White (Westbrook), D. M'GWion W. Kroener, Jeremiah Gilbert, John Hayes (Westbrook), W. Barnett, VV. Morgan (Greenstone), J. J- Williams, R. Bell, Alex. Peterson, J. Henderson, and R. M'Gregor, together with the .members of the Hospital Committee. ]BThe Chairman said he did not think ft necessary to put his name down, because he had been obliged to take a part in it by taking the bailiff out of the apple-shop.—[Loud laughter and applause.] [Here Dr. Monckton and Mr Campbell retired, amidst loud groans, and a cry o f_« Hand out the old teapots !"] The Chairman thought that before separating they should express an opinion as to how the money should be expended. He would suggest that snfficient money should be collected to defend the case, and that they should appoint trustees with the understanding that what was not required should ba returned to the subscribers. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.