HOSPITAL TRUSTEESHIP.

Kumara Times, Issue 2961, 29 April 1886, Page 2

HOSPITAL TRUSTEESHIP.

The meeting of the Hospital Trustees, adjourned from Friday last, was held in the Town Hall last eveniug; present—Messrs W. Morris (in the chair;, Voysey, Burger, Wooldridge, Ziegler, Maloney, also Gr. Mansfield (who represents the VVestland County Council). The outward correspondence was read and approved of. It consisted of a letter written by the Secretary, by order of the Trustees, to Dr. Davy, Surgeon-Superintendent to the Hospital asking him whether he intends procuiing a substitute, or will pay one whom the committee may appoint for the remaining term of three months, stating that he had mentioned nothing of his intention iu that respect in his letter; and that, although no actual agreement is in force, it was only fair to give such sum. The inward correspondence was read and received, and considered. It consisted of a letter from the SurgeonSuperintendent. The following ia a copy : To the Trustees of the Kumara Hospital. Gentlemen—lt may have struck you as a very harsh measure that I have given you so short a notice of my departure. It must be the more annoying to you in that you find yourselves at my mercy, because you repudiated our agreement in self-defence, and with my hearty concurrence. You really must not misunderstand me. I have acted in this manner in order to emphasize my resentment at the act of some insolent person—your own secretary, for example—in removing hospital appliances without my permis° sion. Unless you give effect to your condemnation of such a breach of discipline and so great an insult to me in the severest manner, I shall feel myself justified in adhering to my former decision, and then it rests with you whether you will force me into that position or not. Of course if demands are made upon my sentiments of humanity—if a serious accident occur, or should any one be taken very ill—l should certainly not leave them until some one arrived here to take care of them.

With reference to Mr Voysey's remark alluding to the martyrdom of the Friendly Societies, I would suggest that he should hear the other side. We have always been such good friends, you and I, that I should be sorry to be obliged to cause you any serious inconvenience or annoyance, for I really dont think you have hitherto deserved it at my hands.—l am, gentlemen, faithfully yours, T. G. Davy. April 27, 1886. I add a few words, having received a letter from the very person who committed the gross outrage of which I complain, written on your behalf. My answer is, that if you do not comply with the request made in this letter, I shall adhere strictly to my former letter. It is quite time that you should learn that there are limits to the endurance of insults.

On the motion of Mr Burger, the letter was read a second time, and the Secretary was then asked to reply to the charge contained iu Dr. Davy's letter.

I The Secretary (Mr R. E. Wylde) stated that one night last week Miss Alice Rugg met with a severe accident, having fallen and broken her lea • it was in the skating-room, and was occasioned by her foot slipping from under her whilst she was standing against the wall. Dr. Davy was called in by some person. Oh his arrival Miss Rugg refused to be attended by Dr. Davy, and consequently Mr Evison (who had previously attended the family) was called in, and decided that the bone should be at once set; but he (Mr Evison) stated that he had not the necessary appliances. Mr Ross, the Hospital Wardsman, happened to be present when Miss Rugg was removed to her home, and he (Mr Ross) assisted in lifting Miss Rugg from the stretcher on to the bed where she is now lying. Before leaving the house Mr Ross kindly offered Mrs Rugg to render any assistance that was in his power to relieve the sufferer. He (Mr Wylde) in a few minutes from this was requested by Mrs Rugg to ask Mr Ross for the loan of Hospital splints, aa Mr Evison, who was purposing to set the fractured limb, stated that he would otherwise have to send for splints- to Uokitika, and a delay of several hours would bo prejudicial to the perfect setting and healin" of the fractured limb. He soon fouud Mr Ross, and he at once fetched the splints, and afterwards the cradle. The gill was lying in great pain, and hfl considered it an act of humanity on the part of Mr Ross in thus accommodating them. Miss Rugg was his sister-in-law, but he would have acted in the same manner, under the circumstances, if it had been anyone e'se. This was the sole cause, ns far as he knew, of Dr. Davy's extraordinary letter. He might mention that Mv Rugg is a subscriber to the Kumara i Hospital. Mr Wylde :,dded that should he, under such circumstances, be considered to have commit ted a breach, of

discipline, he apologised to the Trustees for it, but he still regarded the course he took as an act of common humanity. Mr Burger expressed hia entire approval of the Secretary's comluct under the circums'ancps. As one of the House Committee, he had interrogated Mr Ross on the matter of lending the sprints, &c. If there hid heen any breach of trust, it was on the part of Mr Ross, the wardsruan; but the property of the Hospital is under his charge, and under the existing and surrounding circumstances of the case, he considered there was no breach o'f trust. He regarded the letter as the most frivolous and childish a c.>mpl.i>it that ever carne from a professional man. The Chairman said he had a long conversation with the doctor, who apologised for the curtness of his notice to leave. With regard to the loan of the Hospital appliances, he put the question to the doctor in this way "If Mr Evison had been a legally, qualified medical practitioner, would yon have refused the loan of the splints'?" The doctor replied that qualified medical gentlemen would in such case assist each other. He considered the doctor had made a mountain out of a molehill. The doctor's intention was to resign, but he seemed not ; to know when to do so.

Mr Voysey said the doctor's letter was no answer to the Secretary's letter. The Chairman considered the Secretary's letter was fully answered in the postscript to the doctor's letter.

Mr Burger then moved—" That this Committee expect Dr. Davy to carry out the duties of surgeon-superintendent, as formerly, for a period of three months, as has been done by previous medical men, as it would be impossible to fill the vacancy before then."

The motion was seconded by Mr Wooldridge. Mr Ziegler considered a breach of discipline had taken place. He believed though they had an angel from heaven, he would not give satisfaction to everybody. Dr. Porter had his faults, and now they desired him back again. The question was, Had the Secretary or the Wurdsman any right to remove any appliances from the Hospital without the permission of the doctor ?

Mj Maloney would like to know how Mr Ziegler would act if a brother-in-law of his were .so circnmstanced. Mr Mansfield exonerated the Secretary from any blame in the matter. He considered the charge quite unwarrantable. Mr Rujrg had to his certain knowledge been a subscriber to ihe Hospital for years back, and was as justly entitled to the use of the institution's appliances as if the patient had been taken to the Hospital. Mr Voysey thought Mr Ross was perfectly justified in the acuon he took. The Chairman said he would be disposed, before putting Mr Burner's motion, to deal with the doctor's ehaige against the Secretary. It was ridiculous to make such a fuss about it.

With leave of the. seconder, Mr Burger assented. Mr Maloney then moved—" That the Secretary be exonerated from any blame in connection with the matter complained of in Dr. Dairy's letter." Mr Voysey seconded the motion, which was put and carded unanimously. Mr Burger then moved the resolution standing in his name, and would add the words—" and that the Secretary inform Dr. Davy to that effect." Mr Ziegler said this was the first gentleman they had had as a doctor. Mr Burger considered the letter an insult to the committee.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously. This concluded the business.