HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 104, 19 June 1900, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met on Monday. Present: Messrs. Corkill (Ch irman), Oliver, McDonald, McAllum, Wilkinson, Sutton, Smart, Lepper, Dingle, Stewart, and Scott.

The House Committee reported that both the medical staff and the matron considered the two senior probationers ' were quite competent to fill the vacan- ; cies for staff nurses, and recommended that Nurse' Tuke be appointed senior - nurse, and third year probationers ' Holford and Newland staff nurses. They asked that authority be given to equalise the matter of payment of first year's probationers under the old and present system either by way of bonus to the former or by immediate termination of the probationary term. As there was new no second year probationer in the hospital and no vacancy on the staff for Nurse Price at the expiration of her probationary term, they recommended that if both the voung ladies now undergoing the usual three months' trial proved themselves capable they shoujd bpth be retained. After discussing the Medical Superintendent and matrorj the present unsatisfactory supply of vegetables, fish, and poultry, the Com | mittee were taking steps to ensure more frecjuent ai)d regular provision I of those items pf diet. With a view I of properly isolating infectious diseases ' in private more especially iij' th,e country, tlje Cqnjirjittee recommended that the isolatiqi) be made available for use by any person who may prefer tp be attended by their ow» "medical rrfen at>d the rate of pay to be four shillings per day, and £1 for board of nurses, : provision being made for all cases to j be subject to the control of the Board's ' staff and npt to interfere with the ' regular working of the hospital. They fui-tW recommenced that the matron receive an imprest of .£1 gr £2 tp -a L f lo her to pay on the spot for fish, etc., the Secretary to be furnished w ; t!) ac.ount from time to time. They luijUiw- iMQited having advertised for a'staff nurse for IJaw&ra to take the place now temporarily' filled > by Nurse Pries, whp resumes at New 1 Plymouth, j The Chairman, in moving the adopr' don of the report, fully explained the reasons for the recommendations sub- ] mitte<ji, ) After a general the report was adopted. The question of repairs to the kitchen range was left to the Committee. 1 L The liawem House Committee's re* 1 'port was read and adopted.

A circular was read from the Australasian Trained Nurses Association, submitting a schedule of subjects on which instruction was necessary for the training of nurses, and inquiring if the Board was prepared to accept and carry out the same, so that the hospital might b8 placed on the list of recognised hospitals, and that the certificates given by it might entitle nurses trained there to membership of the Association if otherwise eligible.

The Chairman said that the question of giving diplomas had already been discussed by the House Committee and staff, and was a move in the right direction. He proposed that the letter be referred to the House Committee and the medical staff—The motion was carried.

Mr. Quilliam (Mr. Govett) wrote, forwarding a communication received from the Lands Department, stating that sections 16, 25, 35, 36, 45 and 56, in the town of luglewood, were reserved for a hospital site and not as an endowment, and inquiring if the Board was prepared to build a hospital at Inglewood.

It was decided to instruct the Solicitor that the Board had no intention of building a hospital at Inglewood.

The Chairman mentioned that a question had cropped up with reference to a right-of-way over the section near the Racecourse to be exchanged for a section belonging to the Board.—lt was arranged that the matter be referred to the Chairman with power to act. A letter was read from Mr. Thos. Oldfield requesting that the Board would institute a thorough and impartial inquiry into the good reasons which the Chairman alleged the Hawera House Committee had for their action in placing a junior nurse over | his daughter, Miss E. C. Oldfield. He considered that an imputation had been cast on his daughter's character or professional abilities, and that gro?s inj justice had been done in placing Nurse I Furlong as acting-matron at Hawera and removing his daughter to New Plymouth. Therefore, in the interests of the patients, the staff, and the public, he considered an enquiry absolutely necessary.

Mr. Sutton, in moving that the letter be not received, said that he had given Mr. Oldfield all the information available on the subject, but that it was not usual to furnish reasons. There was, he considered, no necssaity to open the matter again.

The motion was duly aeeondel. The Chairman stated that Mr. Oldfield had already seen every member of she House Cbramittee oa the subject. Mr. McOulium thought that a committee of inquiry ought to be s )t up. The Chairman : Inquiry into what ? Mr. McCullum : Itquiry into why Miss Furlong was placed over Miss Oldfield. He felt, however, that it would be no use his moving in the matter, as he considered he " was out of the running," and therefore he hoped chat some other member would take it up, as there seemed to be a slur cast on Miss Oldfield. Mr. Sutton: There was no slur at all.

The Chairman said the whole matter had been discussed by the Board on Aptil 18tb, and previously considered it a scratch meeting at Hawera on the Bth April. Tho action of the Hawera Oommitteo had been approved by the Board.

Mr. McOullum then proceeded to question the Chairman as to his action, and usked whether ha (the Chairman) had not written to a Hawera wsidett I " Hold the fort, for I am coming " The Chairman warmly repudiate.! doiDg so, and 1 el'usei to bo catechise.l by Mr. McOullum, whom he called upon to sit down. An angry colloquy ensued, and eventually Mr. McOullum moved:—"That this Board set up a Committee to ic quire into the matter to allay any public feeling that there may be, and report to the next meeting of the Board, as it was a matter that had never been properly iavjstigated by this Board and therefore called for the attention of the Board to have the matter properly investigated." Mr. McDonald seconded, pro forma. Mr. Smart said the matter had already been deilt with, and that the only excep'ion taken by Mr. Oldfield was as to the Chairman'd remarks at the laßt meeting.

Mr. Sutton reiterated ' that there s was no slur on Mis? Oldfield at all. The Committee were not satisfied with 1 matters at the Hospital, and thought it < was advisable to have a change in th 9 J staff at Hawera, and carried out their ' desire. He had given Mr. Oldfield all necessary information. Ho stated > positively that no sugges' ion came from any one as to who should ba appointed matron. When it became known that i it was impossible for the late Miss Tyers to resume duty, Mr. Scott and himself had talked tha matter over, i and although the Chairman hid first suggested Miss Oldfield for the post, ' they consider9d that she was not capable of filling so responsible a position, and declined to appoint her. Miss Furlong was then suggested, and, after making due icquiries as to her fitness, they decided to take her on | trial, and he could say that thay were perfectly satisfied, and that a very great improvement had taker} place in I the Hospital since Miga Furlong became matron. The reasons which induced them tp pass over Miss Oldfield were altogether apart from her character. Mr, Wilkinson said that as far as he could gather there wa3 no charge against Mias Oldfield: it was merely . the desirability of a change. I At the Chairman's request the Secretary read the testimonial given to Miss Oldfield on leaving the Board's service. ?he Chairman : Could we have given such a testimonial we had serious charges against her ? (Sjveral memDei's : No!) Mr. McDonald that after hearing the testimonial he was not in favour of an inquiry, i Mr. Stewart thought the matter .could go no further. It had been i ventilated, and now that explanations had been gjvpn he was satisfied, j The Chairman said that his remarks I at the last meeting cast no imputation at all. The question was simply this : —Was Miss Oldfield fully qualified as , a fit and proper person to take charge , of the Hawera Hospital"? The Committee thought not. Mr, McOullum, in reply, admitted]:

that Mr. Sutton had thrown moro light in on the subject. He considered that the public would imply from thu Chairman's remarks that something was being kept back. He was satisfied with the explanation, provided he was assured by the members that the appointment was cot cut and drie.i. (Here ensued laud interruptions.) There was a certain amount ot taint when the Chairmen wrote " Hold the fort."

The Chairman declined to allow Mr. McUullum to proceed, and ordered him to sit down.

Thejamundment was then put and declured lost. Mr, Wilkinson then moved as a further amendment: " That a letter b9 sent to Mr, Oldfield stating that the Board have no charge of any description against Miss Oldfield, to whom a testimonial had been given clearly showing that she had the goodwill of the Board and its best wishes for her future career." He said he would like to see the matter settled, and he thought that as tho public might think Miss Oldfield had not been treated justly, his motion seemed the best adapted to meet the case.

After some further discussion, the amendment was put and lost by 5 to 4 votes.

The original motion that the latter be not received was then carried.

Miss Hutton's resignation of duty as cook at Hawera was received, and the filling up of the vacancy was relegated to the Ilawera Housa Committee. Several cases of relief were dealt with. Accounts were passed, The Board then went into Committee on the subject of certain allegations < against the Caretaker at the Kefuge. On resuming, it was decided that after consideration of the correspondence laid | before the Board and evidence taken lat that meeting the Board do not feel warranted in taking steps to disI miss the Caretaker on the evidence adduced. The Board rose about 5 p.m.