THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5661, 22 May 1879, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL.

A meeting of the Hospital committee of the City Council with whom are associated a number of the medical men of Welliugtm was held yesterday afternoon in the City Council chamber. Present—His Worship the Acting Mayor (Mr. G. Allen), Councillors Diver, Dixon, Magi unity, and Moss, and Drs. Johnston, Kemp, and Harding. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said as those present knew the City Council had reluctantly consented to take over the in magemeut of the Wellington Hospital, and it now behoved the Council to organise a scheme for its management. With that view this combined committee had been appointed to consider the subject, aud advise the Council what would be the best course to adopt. Pie was glad that the medical geutleraeu invited had come forward, aud hoped that others would be added to the committee, because after all they were the persons who could give the best advise.

Dr. Johnston said he was quite willing to give the City Council the benefit of any experience he had gained, and he would say he thought there were two courses open to them. One was to manage the institution by a committee appointed by the Council, just as committees were appointed to manage the wharf and other matters. Iu this case he presumed the expenses would be met out of the ordinary revenue of the Council or by a special rate. That was one idea. Another was that an endeavor should he made to support the institution by voluntary subscriptions, aud that an honorary medical staff should be appointed to look after the patients, with the assistance of a resident surgeon. There was no doubt at all iu his mind as to which was the best course. At first no doubt there would be some difficulty in collecting sufficient subscriptions, but he believed that difficulty would soon be got over. He firmly believed that people, once they were induced to take an interest in the institution, would heartily support it. Indeed it was their duty to do so, and it would not, he believed, take long to get over the difficulties of a start, although he admitted there would be considerable difficulties owing to the people of the colony having become educated to expect to have these institutions provided and maintained for them at the cost of Government. It would, he apprehended, be easier once a fair start was made to work on the purely voluntary principle than on a mixed principle, because when people contributed ever so small a sum in the shape of rates they would not like to be asked to supplement by subscription that which they had paid as a tax. The consequence of the Hospital being maintained by voluntary contributions would be management by a specially elected body. There might be an arrangement of this sort : The board of management to consistof ten moulders, a certain number to be appointed by the City Council, some elected by the ratepayers and some elected by the Hutt Council. These were the views he held. (Cheers.) He then adverted to a personal matter —his relations with the Government, the Council, and the Hospital, and said he should very much like to know in what position he stood. For a period of twenty years he had been iu the service of the Government —first in the service of the Provincial Government, and more lately in that of the General Government ; and he thought at least lie might have been consulted in the matter. All he knew was that suddenly he was told the Hospital had been handed over to the Corporation ; and what he wanted to know was, what position he occupied, because he did not want to take office under the City Council, and then find himself deprived of the compensation he was entitled to by loss of office after holding office so long. Councillor Diver might just say a word or two in reference to the last remarks of Dr. Johnston, that he had unofficially been informed by the Hon. Mr. Ballance that Dr. Johnston would be treated just the same as any other officer of long standing who had been deprived of office under the Abolition of the Provinces Act—that was a month’s pay for every year of service. After some little discussion on this point, Dr. Kemp said he was very glad indeed to hear Dr. Johnston speak so strongly in the direction he bad done, because, after paying a good deal of attention to this subject, he had come to conclusions very similar to those expressed by that gentleman. As to the suggestion of a special rate for hospital purposes, he thought it was very undesirable for several reasons. First, there were quite enough rates at present ; secondly, it was desirable to create a more general interest in the institution than could be created by the levying of a rate. He believed there would be no difficulty after a time in getting subscriptions. For a time a portion of the cost would have to be paid out of ordinary revenue, the balance being made up by private subscriptions. He thought there was not much force in the objection that if people paid taxes they would not subscribe. Many persons would willingly subscribe because of their intetest in the institution, more especially if they were given a voice in the management, and had privileges accorded them, such as the right to recommend patients for admission, so that in the course of two or three years the cost to the Corporation would be considerably lessened, and he hoped before long entirely lifted off the shoulders of that body. It would be very desirable to get an honorary staff of medical men, and if that were done appeals to the public for pecuniary aid could be made with much more boldness. A canvasser could say, “ Here are these gentlemen giving their time, which to them means money, to do everything they can to promote the good of the institution—the least thing you can do is to give them the means to carry on the work.” If medical men would give their time aud attention to the hospital without any kind of compensation or remuneration it would form a strong argument to induce people to give pecuniary support. The chief suggestion he had to make was that the Hospital should be supported by voluntary contributions. No doubt the people had been educated to look to the Government for everything, but the difficulty thus created would soon be got rid of. He thought there would be no difficulty in raising £ISOO or £2OOO a year at once. (Hear, hear.) There was another point to which he would like to allude. There were at the present time a considerable number of beds in the Hospital occupied by persons who had no right whatever to be there. (Hear, hear.) They were simply infirm, and ought to be provided for in a separate institution, so as to make room in the Hospital for those who were sick and ill. If that were done there would, he supposed, be nearly a hundred beds in the Hospital. Perhaps Dr. Johnston could give better information on that point. Dr. Johnston said that between eighty and ninety beds were now made up, but the wards were crowded, so that instead of there being 1200 cubic feet of air per patient there was but 600 or 700.

Dr. Kemp continued : He thought if the coarse he suggested could be adopted there would be sufficient room in the building to accommodate the wants of the city for some time to come, and he thought the Hospital should be kept whsre it was. (Hear, hear.) He had not a word to say against the new building. It was all that could be desired were it in a central position, but it was very much out of the way, and quite a long distance from the wharf, the shipping, and the railway. Accidents were constantly occurring at these places, and frequently a ■ hospital would be of little use if a man had to be carried a mile and a half out of town. There was another thing. He did not think mediqa} men practising in town would be found willing to undertake the work of honorary surgeons if they had to go so far every day for the purpose of seeing one or tu o patients. They would feel they were doing more than they could fairly be asked to do. (Hear, hear.) . If the Hospital were kept on the present site there would not be a man, he believed, who would not be glad to give his

services. (Applause.) This was a matter which the Corporation ought to take into serious consideration at once.

Dr. Harding observed that there was little to say more than had been said, but lie would suggest that it would be well if other medical men in the town had an opportunity of expressing their opinions. Councillor Diver agreed, and suggested that the medical men present, together with Dr, Grace, might meet, and invite other members of the profession to join them and assist; in drawing up a report to be presented to the City Council.

Councillor M\ginnity concurred, and said he thought the Council would be in a very groat measure guided by the report of such a body.

Some further discussion ensued, after which it was agreed that the course suggested by Councillor Diver should be adopted. The medical gentlemen then withdrew, and the rest of the committee discussed the advisability of getting from tbo Government some official intimation as to what they considered tube the position of Dr. Johnston. It was resolved to write the Government on tbo subject. The meeting then adjourned.