TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 182, 3 August 1871, Page 6

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

w (To the Editor.) Sir, — I was present at the quarterly meeting of subscribers to the above institution, held at the Commercial Hotel, ou Tuesday, the 18th ult., and any little doubt that existed in my mind previously as to the Hospital affairs being ruled by a clique, was eutirely removed by the one-sideisin displayed by the chairman, and some five or six others who think with him— he being' their only mouthpiece on that, occasion. It appeared to me that the clique had fully discussed, and had everything «ut and dried to lay before the meeting, but were greatly astonished to find the public h-id assembled in such large numbers, to hear from them how they proposed to meet the deficiency caused by the loss of the subsidy. It was quite evident, by the report which they submitted, that their first care was the Resident Surgeon, and cecondly, the institution— £2oo was to be taken off the Doctor's salary, and he was to be allowed private practice ; and by this so-called reduction they would endeavour to make the subscribers

believe that the efficiency of the Hospital would not be impaired. Now, sir, T contend that it would have a very damaging effect upon the efficiency of the institution. If the course they suggest were adopted, the Hospital would immediately lose the services of the present Honorary Surgeon — a loss, you will admit, which would be severely felt, and could not be replaced, for it could not be expected that he would continue to devote the amount of time that he hitherto has done to the Hospital, if the Committee allowed the Resident Surgeon £250 per annum, with house pirtly furnished, fuej, and light (which I estimate is worth £125 more), to compete with him in private practice. It has been said by some that the question of the Resident Surgeon competing with the Honorary Surgeon was a matter that the Committee had nothing to do with. I contend that it is a mutter they should consider, unless they were prepared to show that the Resident Surgeon having private practice would not in any way impair the harmony which has existed so long between the two medical gentlemen in question ; but this they have entirely failed to do — in fact, do not mention it. If we look back to the time of the pre sent Resident Surgeon's appointment, some eight years ago, we shall find that he then undertook the duties at £300 per annum, with quarters, fuel, and light. His quarters at that time were but very poor ones — two little rooms ; since that time he has had his salary raised £150, aud additions made to his quarters which have cost nearly, if not quite, £300, besides partly furnishing it. Keeping all this in view, and also the reduction which has taken place in everything the last eight years, I do not see that the chairman was justified in saying that the first amendment proposed was an insult to the Resident Surgeon, although I do not asrree with it, thinking it below what the district can afford to contribute. £300 per annum, with quarters, fuel, and light — say, in all, equal to £425 — I believe would be considered a fair amount to offer any Resident Surgeon, and I have no doubt ;hat if the present Resident Surgeon declines to accept that sum, it would be easy to obtain the services of a competent surgeon to fulfil the duties for the sum above named. The Resident Surgeon of the Dunedin Hospital, who has an average of 120 patients under his care, and cannot leave the Hospital without finding a substitute, is only receiving £300, with quarters. The average number of patients in our Hospital, in future, _according to the report, is to be twelve or thirteen ; consequently, The work or the one must he heavy compared with the other. Another matter I would mention, where the Committee I con->i 1-r did wrong, viz., in asking the Resident Surgeon to suggest what reductions could be made in the working of the institution ; it was the Committee's place to ascertain for themselves. I am of opinion that very large reductions could be made in a direction which has not been tried. I allude to the dietary scale. I have been informed on very good authority that the meat consumed averages two and a half pounds per head per diem. If tl.is is true, there mnst be a large amount of waste, or else the patients in the Dunedin Hospital are very ill — fed, as the full dietary sc.ile there is half a pound of ment eac'i ; but then they do not keep pigs to fatten on the waste meat. Another dire-tion in which the Committee's attention may be profitably employed is to clearing out loafing patients — some of those who have been in the habit of getting drunk and staggering about the streets

of Lawrence. It has been stated by one of the members of Committee, whose veracity has been doubted, that the last meeting was srot up by one or two blackguards to suit their own purposes. All that I can say is, that if showing up jobbery and thwarting the pet schemes which emanate from that very select body qualities one for that distinction, I shall only be too happy to qualify myself and keep the same sjood, and I think the surest and quickest way will be to disagree with what they advocate, for several got the decree conferred upon them by the plan I have just mentioned. In conclusion, I trust that the contributors will at the next meeting attend in such numbers as will show these would-be autocrats that they must submit to public opinion, and if not, resign and give place to better men. — I am, &c, Subscriber. Lawrence, August 2, 1871.