DISTRICT HOSPITAL BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2151, 17 July 1920, Page 4

DISTRICT HOSPITAL BOARD.

JOINED A UNION. The bogey of unionism momentarily intruded itself on the Hospital Board on Wednesday, when a letter was received from the secretary of the Wellington Board, informing them of an Association of Hospital Officers, that had ben formed during the time of the Hospital Board Conference. The secretary stated he had brought the matter forward in order to see if the Board had any objection to his joining the Association. The chairman (Sir James "Wilson) mentioned that a similar proposal had been put forward in the time of the Board’s first secretary, the late Mr W. Rutherfurd. Mr Rutherfurd had said at the time he did not think it was wise, for the Board’s officers to join up. Mr Murdoch: Why not ? The Chairman: I don’t know. I am merely stating what he said. Mrs Gill: That was a long time ago. I don’t think we can consider those things how. The secretary said that there were no less than six chairmen of boards representing.their secretaries at the meeting when the Association was formed, and they had all favoured tlffi idea. —Mrs Gill: I would like to move that the secretary be allowed to join.—Mr HornblowM don’t tiling we can prevent him joining the Union if he wants to. The Secretary: “It is not a union, Mr ITornblow!” —Mr Horn blow: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” He went on to say that the Board might be called upon to arbitrate with the Association later on if they gave the secretary permission to join. He did not think they should be asked for (heir consent. —The Secretary Said that his reason for asking for their consent was that he did not want to go behind the Board’s back. The idea of the Association was that they might do a lot in the direction of the economical administration of'dlic hospitals. The secretaries had no idea of forming a union. They recognised that the wages of secretaries must be dictated by local conditions. —Dr. Whitaker spoke in agreement with the secretary on the latter point. They must deal direct with their own secretaries on such matters. There was no reasfln why the secretaries should not have a little private association. After some further discussion-it was tacitly agreed to let matters take their course. OTAKI HOSPITAL. WILL IT BE CLOSED? The suggestion that the Otaki Cottage Hospital might be closed has led to considerable perturbation among the local bodies in the vicinity of the hospital. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Palmerston North District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board two letters of protest Were received. The Otaki Town Board wrote, enclosing a resolution of protest against the suggested closing, and asking other bodies to make a similar protest. A further letter on the same matter was received from the Horowhenua County Council, enclosing the following resolution : “That this council is not at all in favour of the suggestion to close the Otaki Cottage Hospital, believing that its useful service in the past can be augmented in the future under the Palmerston North Hospital Board, and as a large contributor to hospital funds, this council would strongly oppose any attempt in the direction of closing the hospital, at least until it has had a fair trial under the present board.” Sir James Wilson: I don’t think the contributions would pay the expenses in connection with the hospital cases, although they claim to be large contributors. Of course, we get the Government subsidy. The letters were received. At a later stage of the meeting the two notices of motion by Mr J. K. Hornblow and Mr E. Penn, Avhich were given at the' 1 last meeting, were again brought forward. It was generally agreed that time would not permit of the matter being fully discussed, and it was. decided to hold it over till the next meeting. Mr'Uenn said that Mr Field, M.P, for Otaki, had -written to the Minister on the subject, and had received his assurance that the board had not decided on its policy in the matter, and that the hospital would not be closed. Mr Hornblow: He has no right to make a statement of that nature before he has conferred with the Board. The Chairman: Has he got a say in the matter'? The discussion then dropped. HOSPITAL MATRON. MISS MeLAGAN HONOURED. As a token of the esteem in which she is held, and of the popularity which she has Avon during 22 years of service on the staff of the Palmerston, North District Hospital, a portrait of the matron (Miss McLagan) avus unveiled on the Avail of the corridor connecting the lavo hcav wards, on Wednesday. The unveiling ceremony avus performed by Dr. Valentine, avlio spoke of the splendid services rendered by Matron McLagaii, and hoped she Avould long remain at the hospital to carry on the tine Avork she had already accomplished. The Chairman handed her a cheque, Avhich, he said, Avould cover the cost of her travelling expenses while the portrait avus being painted in Wellington. Responding on behalf of the mat-

“r ; ron, Dr. Putnam said -she Avished him to express her great sense of gratitude for the honour conferred upon her. The speaker said that the portrait- was a- small token to express what They all thought of the matron. In-her work, he said, she had four sections to-deal Avith—-the Board, the staff, the patients and the public. The Board was possible, the staff could be managed, the "patients were as babes, but the public was the very devil! (Laughter..) The matron’s record avus unique in Nbav Zealand in that there had hardly been an occasion on Avhich friction bad occurred in the working of the hospital, Avhich avus a great tribute to her tact, common--sense and kindness of heart. (Applause.)