TUAPEKA HOSPITAL

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 181, 27 July 1871, Page 8

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL

The usual quarterly meeting of the subscribers to the Hospital was held at the Commercial Hotel on Tuesday evening, the 18th inst. On the motion of Mr. John Cormack W. L. Simpson, Esq., was elected to the chair. The Chairman said besides the business usually transacted at quarterly meetings, there were other important matters to be considered by the subscribers. As they were aware, owing to a reduction in the Government subsidy, a radical charge would have to be made in the management of the Hospital. A special report had been drawn up by the Committee, which suggested means for carrying on the institution with the decreased income. The report would be laid before them in due course. He called upon the secretary to read the statement of receipts and expenditure for the quarter ending June 30, 1871, from which we gathered that the receipts Lad been £314, and the expenditure £471 3s Id, the > amount due to the Bank of New South Wales being £405 13s Id. The balance due by the Grovernment for subsidy was £990 2a 6d ; this sum includes subsidy at £2 to £1 on £114 received during the quarter; the Grovernment, however, may only allow the reduced subsidy on that amount. Mr. Harrop moved, and Mr. M' Swiney seconded, " That the financial statement be received." — Carried. After a pause, Mr. Ferguson moved its adoption. Seconded by Mr. E. Herbert and carried. The Chairman said he would now read the Committee's report, which was as follows : — Special Report of the Committee of Management of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hospital to the second Quarterly Meeting of Subscribers for tlw year 1871. Your Committee have the honour to report that, in consequence of the recent resolutions of the Provincial Council to reduce thf subsidy to the up-country hospitals from £2 to £1 to £1 to £1, i hey held special meetings on the 11th and I4rh instant, to take into consideration the prei»nt financial statement of the Hospital, and what steps it would be ueeessary to take to enable them to carry on the institution witli the decreased subsidy, and the following are the results of their ■ deliberations :. — Tour Committee find that thn present average annual expenditure of the institution may be st ited at from £1700 to £18 JO, in tde up as follows :—: — Saiabibs — Resident Surgeon - - £151 Servants - ... 250 Secretary 35 735 ! Expenditure on patients, extra service, &c, s,.y - 1000 £1735 To meet which there was the following income for 1871 . — Subscriptions - L 448 0 0 Proceeds from entertainments - 68 0 0 Amount obtained from patients 139 0 0 Produce sold - - - - 9 10 0 Subsidy on L 516, the amount obtained by subscriptions and entertainments - - 1032 0 0 L 1696 10 0 Pifference - - - - 38 10 0 L 1735 0 0 To attempt, therefore, to carry on the institution, which has hitherto been such a boon to the district, and piy the same sums for salaries and maintenance as heretofore, with a subsidy of only Ll to Ll, is in the opinion of your Committee impossible without insolvency being the result. To meet the difficulty, and endeavour to maintain th* institution in as efficient a state as possible, the Committee have the folio uring proposals to make: —

It would appear from the Surgeon's Reports that the number of patients, whose diseases nre considered chronic, received into the institution during the year, in the 'average, amounts to about a. third of the to al number treated in the institution. Indeed, at pt«sent fchere are five such eases in the institution out of a total of seventeeu. Considering, therefore, i6hat there is an institution in Dunedin supported entirely at the expense of the Government, the Committee propose to lay down a rule that all destitute patients, whose diseases the Resident Surgeon may pronounce chronic, be at onse forwarded to the Ho.-pital in Dunediu at the expense of this institution. Tin's course they believe will effect a saving of L3OO per annum.

2nd. That the Resident Surgeon's salary be reduced from Ll5O per annum to L 250 per annum, and that ha be allowed private practice within a radius of five miles of the Hospital, bo for as compatible with the rules. 3rd. That the secretary's salary be reduced from L 35 to L2O per annum .

4th. That the .vardsman, matron, and «ook, who at present receive respectively, LIOO, LSO, and LIOO per annum, receive LIOO, L 45, and L 75 per annum respectively, and that the whole of the work of the institution be performed by those servants without extra assistance. At present it would appear that some L2O a year is expended Ibr assistance in keeping the grounds, and for wash* ing, &c, If these proposal are therefore carried out, the expenditure might be set down at gALAXiES -Resident Surgeon - . L 250 Secretary 20 Wardsman - 100 Matron ... 45 Oeok - 75 L 490 Makitenanee of patients, &c. - - 700 Lll9O To meet which, *fee Coromittee calculate on •the following rev any e j — Subscriptions - L 450 Entertainments and other sources, say - 50 . Amount to be obtained from patients, *ay '. 105 L?OS Subsidy on Ll to Ll on that amount <L 605 galeof produce, 4<? r .- 10 ; - '-■• \ ~ ' L 1220 Surplus 1: ~ . • - ' - - L3O In ealealftting this revenue, the Committee. $>ropo l se i ' l ib. charge subsidy on the amount «üb*cwbed by" paying patients, hitherto this \mjs> been done.

If, therefore, the subscribers will continue the aid they liavn hith»rto accorded to the institution, the Committee can see their way to maintaining it as an institution for the treatment of all sicute cases of disease and accidents, which indeed is the proper sphere of an up-country Hospital. The Co urn it tee submit this report to the subscribers with the view of obtaining from them any suggestions that may occur to them for the better carrying out of the required retrenchments ; and also that should the subscribers see fit that they give the necessary authority for the carrying out of the proposed alterations. W. Lawbekob Simpson ROBRBT M'EJMMIB Wtt.t.taut M'BBATH The Chairman said such was the report of the Committee, and is was for the meeting to decide whether or not it should be adopted. Mr. Ferguson said that as some of the matters about to be discussed nearly affected Drs. Stewart and Halley, he would suggest to those gentlemen the propriety of retiring. Dr. Stewart wished to say that it was his inteniton to retire immediately the discussion commenced. The doctors having left the room, Mr. Sheath moved the reception of the report. Seconded by Mr. Chalmers and carried. The Chairman said it was now open for discussion, when Mr. Ferguson said he did not hear when the report was being read what the proposed method was for meeting the expenditure. The Chairman read over the portions of the report referring to the removal of chronic cases to Dunedin, reductions of salaries, <fee. A. long pause. The chairman said if there were no remarks to be made, he would thank some gentleman to move the adoption of the report. Mr. D. Campbell observed that there were a good many of ltis family (as the Chinese were called) present, and he would ask if they were brought there to vote. — (Laughter.) The Chairman : Ido not know ; but if you put the question to those gentlemen they will probably inform you. After another lull, Mr. Cormack said that silence was generally taken as a token of consent, and as no one seemed inclined to make any remarks upon the report, he would move its adoption. Mr. Jamison : In the event of private practice being granted to the Resident Surgeon, what provisions has been made for attending to the Hospital in his absence ? — (Applause.) The Chairman said the only provision the Committee had made was contained in that part of their report which read — " That the Surgeou be allowed private practice within a radius of five miles of the Hospital, so far as compatible with the rules." There were certain rules, however, which would require alteration. Mr. Ferguson : Have the Committee power to alter the rules ? The Chairman : They have the power to alter certain rules ; but the j contributors alone have the power of fixing the amount of salaries. (See Rule IX.) In reply to a question by Mr. M'Kimmie regarding the hours of attendance of the Resident Surgeon, The Chairman read rules XVIII. to xxr.

Mr. M'Kimmie : If I understand Mr. Jamison aright, his question is — What provision have the Committee made for medical attendance at the Hospital during the Resident Surgeon's absence ?

The Chairman : The report says that private practice will only be allowed in so far as is compatible with the rules. After some discussion regarding the Surgeon's hours of attendance,

Mr. M'Kimmie said he would like to know if the rules required the Resident Surgeon to be on the premises all night. The Chairman said that Rule XVIII. provided "That the Surgeon shall reside in the house provided for him," by which it was understood that he would sleep there.

Mr. M'Kimmie said there was nothing in the report to prevent the Surgeon being absent from the Hospital all night, and he would like to know what would become of the institution should such an event occur. He would liked to have seen something more definite on the part of the Committee, so that they would not fear to meet the subscribers face to face.

The Chairman : Perhaps Mr. M'Kimmie would move an amendment. The Committee have gone to a great deal of trouble iv drawing up a report in order to meet the present emergency, and their action had been such that he saw no reason why they could not meet the subscribers face to face. Mr. Mears rose to speak, when the Chairman asked him if he was a subscriber. Mr. Mears : I am, and you will find my name on Mr. Bastings' list. The Chairman then read over last year's list, but Mr. Mears' name did not appear on it. It subsequently transpired that he had subscribed., during the present year. I [At the suggestion of the Chairman, the -meeting adjourned to the Assembly Room, the room they were in beino 1 overcrowded.] ■ A long and by no means dispassionate discussion ensued as to what constituted a subscribe". After a considerable time had been spent by the Chairman jn searching

the Ordinance -to ascertain the necessary qualification to constitute a voter, he read the only clause bearing upon voting, but that only referred to the election of office bearers, which was to the effect that a subscriber must have contributed £1 a month before the general meeting.

Mr. M'Swiney said as that only had reference to the election of officers, it would be better to deal with the present matter in a liberal spirit. If the qualification to vote was limited to £1, it would materially affect the best interests of the institution.

[From the confused character of meeting, our reporter was unable to catch the Chairman's ruling as to who was eligible to vote, but he is informed that it was to the effect that any person whose name appeared on last year's subscription list would be allowed to vote at that meeting.]

Mr. Mears said he was aware that for some reason he was obnoxious to some members of the Committee, who wished to baulk him by asserting that he was not a subscriber to the funds of the Hospital, and therefore not eligible to take part in the present proceedings. It was strange that tho.e gentlemen did not make enquiries at. to whether or not he was a subscriber before they attempted to put him down. He had been a strong supporter of the institution for some years past, and had been a member of the Committee of Management, but he found he could not work with some of them, so he had rt signed. Some time ago the quostion of allowing the surgeon private practice had been mooted, and the subscribers had gone iv strongly against it ; and now the question had again arisen. What he would say was, as the subsidy was reduced, which rendered retrenchment necessary, offer the surgeon £250 a year without private practice. If the report were adopted in its entirety, the only construction that could be put upon it was this : that by allowing Dr. Stewart a residence, fuel, furniture, <fee, along with private practice they would, be giving him an unfair advantage over Dr. Halley, who was an old and tried servant of the public, and who had bestowed a great part of his time and and attendance on the institution ; and as Dr. Halley could not be expected under those circumstances to give, as hitherto, his gratuitous and valuable services to tho Hospital, its efficiency would be greatly decreased. Again: Supposing: Dr. Stewart were attending a dinVult case at a distance, and in his absence a .man with-brekercr limbs wera brettgfrt" into the Hospital, would" the Doctor leave his private case to attend to the other ? It was easy to see what would be the result of allowing private practice. However, without going further into the matter he would move an amendment: — "That the report be adopted, with the omission of the words ' private practice.' "

Mr. J. Russell seconded. He fully concurred with the last speaker that if the Resident Surgeon were allowed private practice it would be the means of destroying the efficiency of the iustitution.

Mr. M'Coy remarked that as efficiency was the point at issue, perhaps it would be as well to consider whether any surgeon would accept the position of Resident Surgeon at the reduced salary. Mr. Jamison : Perhaps it would meet the views of the subscribers to insert in the report, after " private practice," " provided the Surgeon guarantees efficiency." If this could be guaranteed it seemed to him that was all that was required. Mr. Cormack opposed Mr. Mears's motion. It could not be expected that the Surgeon could do the work connected with the office for £5 per week ; he wouldn't do it himself. He did not say the salary should be excessive ; but it should at least be something fair.

Mr. Simpson here vacated the chair, and placed Mr. Adams in it. It might be thought that by taking this course he was anxious to come forward as the Surgeon's Champion, but he only did so in a spirit of fairness. They had been satisfied with the Dr. in every particular during the long period he had had charge of the Hospital, and to offer him £250 per annum after his long and faithful services was a direct insult. — (No, no.) If they objected to private practice, give the Surgeon a fair salary ; if not, allow him private practice, and reduce his salary. How was it possible he could support his family at the amount it was proposed to allow him 1 Any miner at the Spur could earn as much by fossicking. He repeated it was mean to cut down the salary of a man who had served them so long and so well. Mr. Donovan rose to move another amendment, but was ruled out of order, when he remarked that the Chairman jumped at conclusions. Any one could make another amendment Some one else also wished to move an amendment, but was overruled. Mr. Humphrey agreed with the report in every particular excepting that of private practice, which, he contended, would destroy the harmony existing between the two doctors. The Chairman wished to remark that none but subscribers would be allowed to take part in the proceedings. Mr. Donovan considered the general public — those who had come there to do a public duty — should be allowed to vote. The Chairman repeated that non-

subscibers would not be permitted to J vote.

Mr. Donovan here tendered some money, as a subcription which the Chairman declined to accept. Mr. Ferguson: Would you refuse to receive £1 as a subscription to entile a person to vote 1

The Chairman said Mr. Ferguson had mistaken his previous ruling.

Mr. Ferguson moved — "That this meeting adjourn for a fortnight, in order to obtain the ruling of the President."

The Chairman : I repeat, you have mistaken me. If you will not understand,! cannot make the matter clearer.

Mr. W. D. Morrison asked if there was any specified time when a person should become a subscriber.

The Chairman explained that the Ordinance was silent as to when a person became a subscriber. Mr. Donovan wished to know if non-subscribers could not vote. The Chairman : No. Mr. Mears asked a similar question to that of Mr. Morrison's, and received a similar answer. He then asked: Will you allow any one to become a subscriber now ? The Chairman declined to do so He considered a fair ruling would be that a person who had subscribed within twelve months would be entitled to vote. In reply to a question by Mr Mears, The Chairman said the subscription lists wfere generally sent out about the middle of the year.

Mr. M'Kimmie asked if Chinamen, who did not understand the English language, would be allowed to vote.

The Chairman : If they understand the matter in hand and can speak English, I will take their vote, provided they are subscribers.

Mr. Cormack said it was evident there was a strong clique who did not wish the business to proceed. They wanted to adjourn the meeting, so as to have matters all their own way. Mr. Ferguson was not aware of the existence of any such clique, and the gratuitous assertion of Mr. Cormack was uncalled for. The Chairman, put the amendment to the meeting, and directed those who were in favour of it to record their votes at the table. Mr. Ferguson : This system of voting in nothing but intimidation, against which I record my protest; and will move, in the face of the amendment, the adjournment of this meeting. Mr. Ferguson was ruled out of ordeiv T ie Chairman said as no one came forward .to vote for the amendment, he would ask those who were in favour of the motion to step up to the table. Mr. Mears : You cannot take votes for the motion until the amendment is declared lost. This having been done, Mr. Donovan said as the amendment was lost, it was open for any one to move another. He was one of those who had supported the Hospital for many years, and he had always personally respected Dr. Stewart ; nor was his respect for Dr. Halley any less No one was more sorry for Dr. Stewart in his present circumstances than himself (Mr. Donovan), but retreuchment was absolutely necessary. The salary of the first Resident Surgeon was fixed at £400 a year, and when Dr. Halley resigned that position, tenders were called for another medical men, when Dr. Stewart received the appointment. His (Dr. Stewart's) personal friends had proposed to raise his salary, and an increase of £50 a year was made. Expense upon expense was incurred, amongst which was that of building a room for the convenience of the Committee, who objected to hold their meetings in hotels ; while men like himself, who had worked hard and long for the institution, were not recognised. Now that there was a decrease in the revenue, difficulties had arisen which it was proposed to partly meet by reducing the Surgeon's salary and allowing him private practice. He was strongly opposed to this course, and considered if it were adopted they should allow the cook private practice also. — (Laughter). There was great enthusiasm regarding the efficiency of the Hospital — an institution which was indeed a credit to themselves and the country —but that efficiency would be destroyed if private practice were allowed the Surgeon, as they would be deprived of the services of the Honorary Surgeon. It had been insinuated that some had attended that meeting for a particular purpose, but hia impression was that the majority desired that equal justice should be done to the two medical men. He would move an amendment " That the words ' private practice' be era9ed from the report, and that £350 be substituted for present salary." Mr. M'Swiney said the main difficulty was the question of private practice, which, if it were allowed, would be the means of depriving tho institution of the services of a much valued medical man. He had no doubt the deficient £ LOO in the Surgeou's salary would be made up by to.c energy of the public. He would second the amendment.

Mr. Ferguson wished to explain that his only object in speaking at that meeting was to protest against private practice being approved, as it would undoubtedly materially damage the institution.

The amendment was then put, when thoir voted — for, 19 ; against, 17 ; the amendment was therefore carried.

Mr. Jamison moved, " That the report be adopted with the following additions : that the Surgeon and Committee guarantee efficient management of the Hospital, and that provision be made for supplying medical attendance during the Surgeon's absence." He thought with those additions the report might be fairly adopted. Mr. Farrer seconded. Mr. Donovan remarked that bis amendment, being carried, took the place of the original motion. He looked upon the amendment just submitted as ridiculous. The idea was to make the Committee responsible for accidents and losses which might occur during the Surgeon's absence. He would like to know what guarantee they could give him if he fell down and broke his neck. — (A. voice: A postmortem one.) Mr. Mears said the members of Committee should endeavour to popularise themselves, and not take such action as would tend to injure the Hospital as in the case of the Christy Minstrels. He had no doubt men could be found to fill the places of an unpopular Committee of a popular institution, which, so long as the present state of things existed, would continue to £0 down. Mr. Jamison suggested that as a means of reducing the expenses, no more pauper tickets should be issued. Mr. Morrison pleaded guilty to giving a ticket to a woman who represented to him that she was in destitute circumstances ; he had done so quite unconsciously, believing what she said, and no doubt many more had done likewise, and perhaps his conduct in the matter was not inexcusable. Begarding Mr. Jamison's amendment, he was in favour of it, although he did not vote for it. Mr. Morrison having expressed himself as against allowing private practice, The Chairman put Mr. Jamison's amendment, when Mr. Donovan asked if it was an amendment on hia motion. The Chairman replied in the affirmative. Mr. Humphrey asked if the Committee had been told by Dr. Halley that he would withdraw his services from the Hospital if private practice were allowed the Resident Surgeon. The Chairman : The Committee have received no such intimation. Mr. Hay was in a position to state that Dr. Halley would not continue his gratuitous services if the Resident Surgeon commenced private practice. Mr. Pressley wished to know if Mr. Jamison's was an amendment, on Mr. Donovan's motion. The Chairman said it was an amendment on Mr. Donovan's amendment, which became the substantive motion. Mr. Donovan here entered a protest against the Chairman's ruling. On the amendment being put Mr. Donovan objected to persons remaining in their seats and simply nodding, instead of recording their votes at the table. Ultimately Mr. Donovan's motion was carried. Mr. Hay had a few words to say. He thought it advisable that the meeting should adjourn to enable petsons who were not subscribers to become qualified to vote, by subscribing to the funds. He would move, " That this meeting adjourn for a month." He had no doubt that in that time a sum equal to £300 could be gathered, which alone was an inducement to adjourn. If his amendment was not carried, he had another a yard long, and he would keep them all night. Mr. Sutherland seconded. He said respecting the subscription lists, that now-a-days it was impossible to see one without going to a public house, where a person had to get a nobbier before he could get a sight of one. He declaimed against keeping the list in private rooms and public bars instead of px*operly distributing them. Messrs. Donovan, Mears, and Morrison strongly opposed the adjournment of the meeting. Mr. Hay's amendment, which, however, was finally carried, and the meeting adjourned for a month. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the proceedings. [The above is necessarily a greatly condensed report.]