TUAPEKA HOSPITAL

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 186, 31 August 1871, Page 5

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL

The adjourned special meeting of subscribers to the Hospital for the purpose of considering the action of the Governmen^in reducing the subsidy to up-country Hospitals, was held in the Commercial Assembly Room on Friday evening last, H, Bastings, Esq., President, occupying the chair.

The Chairman said it would perhaps be in order to make a few remarks as to what had besn. done at tbe previous meeting. It appeared to him that the primary matte*, viz., the conduct of the Government towards up-country hospitals hadbeen altogether lost sight of. It was true that Government had not sufficient funds to. do everything that could be desired, but they could certainly, had they chosen, have given assistance as well to up-country

hospitals as to the one in Dunedin. He regretted to say that the agricultural members, who were a strong party in the Council, being dead against the Goldfields, voted for the abolition of the subsidy ; and again, the very last night of the recent sitting of the Council the Government could find, sufficient money to grant £1500 for a Girls' High School, which no doubt was a necessary institution, but it would have been far more fair and equitable to have continued the very necessary Bubsidy of £2 to £1 to upcountry hospitals, the withdrawal of which had placed the committee of management of our local institutions between thehornsof an awkward dilemma. — (Hear, hear.) After reflecting mpon the Government for the ungenerous course it had pursued with regard to the goldfields generally, the speaker continued by saying that odinm had been cast upon some of the members of Committee for what had transpired at last meeting. He might say that at a previous Committee meeting he stated what in Ms opinion should have been done, namely, instead of sitting down and tamely bearing all the injustice that a partial Government chose to .inflict upon us, to rise and demand that which was ours by equity, right, and justice. — (Cheers.) Our Hospital had assumed the aspect and functions of a benevolent asylum — a state of things which could no longer exist ; and seeing that retrenchment was absolutely necessary, he contended the proper course would be to send as many patients as possible to town. He had no doubt men could be found in Dunedin who would be willing to support their hospital out of their own pockets — a plan the adoption of which was devoutly to be wished for, inasmuch as it would relieve the Government of all expense in connection with the institution, and leave them without an excuse for not continuing their support to up-country hospitals.— (Hear, hear.) People up-country, who had taxed themselves so heavily in order to keep up their charitable institutions efficiently, should stand on their rights, and show by their unmistakeable action that they would strenuously oppose the actiou of the Government in withdrawing their aid where it was most required, while the institution in town was supported out of the general revenue. If people in the country districts had made a proper stand some time ago, the Government would have seen the necessity of continuing their support. — (Hear, hear.) After touching upon various points, the speaker continued by saying that at a recent Committee meeting the question of keeping on the Hospital had been argued fro and con., and among other things it was proposed to give the Resident Surgeon £250 a year a?id private practice. This course, it was argued, would tend to mar the good feeling existing between our two medical gentlemen — a contretemps which he for one would deeply regret. He was inclined, however, to think they could arrange matters between themselves. But tnese considerations should be sunk altogether, as the question to be considered was the interests of the Hospital. It was thought by some that more money than hitherto could be raised by way of subscriptions, but it would be found that this was an error. The liberality of the people of this district had always been unbounded ; and whenever a suffering fellow-creature appealed to them for sympathy and relief, they had ever been found willing, nay, eager to accord to him that amount of Good Samaritan-like assistanoQ which his condition required. — (Loud cheers.) He repeated that the district had always contributed towards charitable objects to the utmost of its power; and to suppose that past exertions in that direction could be exceeded, was simply a mistake ; if they kept up to the mark, he thought they would do very well. — (Hear, hear.) The Committee at the previous public meeting had submitted a report containing suggestions for the future conduct of the Hospital, with which report the public did not agree ; 30 that the only alternative left to the Committee was to retire, so that a new one could be elected. He would suggest that at the next meeting the Committee should give notice to the servants of the Hospital to hold themselves in readiness to be dismissed. He contended there was no other course, seeing the public had declined to accept the report. v The gentlemen who had undertaken the management of the Hospital had incurred liabilities to the amount of £800, and their only plan was to get clear of them, give notice to the servants, complete their term of office, and retire ; the public could then elect a new Committee and arrange about the surgeon. No doubt the proper course had been pnrsned in consulting the public, but as they had not endorsed the views of the Committee, there was nothing else left but what he had stated. Concerning the rumours of maladministration which had gone abroad, he would only say that the Committee had always endeavoured to out-vie each other in their efforts for che good of the institution. They had not starved the patients and reduced them to the condition of the inmates of Home workhouses ; and yet everything had been managed, with a view to economy 5 in fact he had often been surprised at the lowness of the tenders of the various contractors, many of whom supplied goods below prime cost. As to general efficiency, the Hospiial would contrast favourably with any other similar institution in the colony. It was to be regretted that any ill feeling should have arisen between the public and th,e Committee, and every endeavour should be made to sooth it, otherwise the mouse would develope into a mountain. All ill feeling should be 'smothered in our exertions to contribute to the great work of charity. — (Loud cheers). The Chairman next read a letter from Mr. Donovan, which contained an apology for non-attendance through illness, and stated that the writer adhered to the views he enunciated at the previous meettng.

The chairman said that in looking over the rules of the institution he found that No. 3 provided that no person suffering from aa incurable disease, nor any one in the opinion oJ the Surgeon who is unsuitable to be admitted, shall be received under any circumstances. By strictly enforcing this rule the Hospital would be relieved of a great amount of expense. Mr. Russel : Is the Surgeon not responsible for the carrying out of the rules 1

The Chairman,.: Yes, after he finds out that the rules have been infringed upen,

when it becomes his duty to send unsuitable patients to town.

Mr. Ferguson : Has this meeting power to do anything further ?

The Chairman said the meeting had no power. The Committee, which had been elected for twelve months, had become liable for certain money and contracts, and as their views for clearing off these liabilities and for the future carrying on of the Hospital had not met with the approval of the public, he held that they would be doing right in giving notice to theservants, and then calling a public meeting for the purpose of electing a fresh Committee, and to decide as to future management. Mr. Ferguson : Has the Committee power to adopt their report ?

The Chairman : No. Only at annual meetings can reductions in salaries, &c, be made.

In answer to other questions the Chairman said the Committee had no legal authority for adopting the report. If they could make arrangements with the servants it would be all right, but if the latter demurred, nothing could be done until the annual meeting.

Mr. M'Neill : Then nothing more can be done 1

The Chairman : Yes ; that's about it. — (.Laughter. )

In reply to questions, the Chairman said there was no use in passing resolutions, which could not be acted upon, but if it was the wish of the meeting he would not object to discussion. If any twelve gentlemen present would become responsible for the liabilities of the Committee he had no doubt they could be prevailed upon to resign ; and then other arrangements might be made concerning the overdraft at the bank. Some time ago they could get no money from the Government and the Committee had become resposible for the amount already stated. No money would be forthcoming from the Government until October.

Several questions of a similar nature to the above having been put and replied to, some discussion ensued, after which Mr. M'Kimmie moved: — "That in the opinion of this meeting the present servants of the Hospital should receive one month's notice, and that a married couple be advertised for to do all the household work of tlie Hospital."

Mr. Mears seconded. After further discussion, Mr. Hay moved: — "That in the opinion of this meeting, owing to the action of the Provincial Council in reducing the subsidy to up-country hospitals, and thereby rendering the Committee unable to carry on the Tuapeka Hospital efficiently, the present Committee be requested to hand over to the Government the management of the Hospital, and that the Committee communicate with the other up-country hospitals on the subject ; that this motion take effect after the subsidy is paid, i.e., the first week in October." «•

Mr. M'Kimmie, with the consent of the seconder, withdrew his motion in favour of Mr. Hay's amendment, which Mr. Mears seconded. Several suggestions and amendments having been made, and eloquent speeches having been delivered by Messrs. M'Coy, Tolcher, the Chairman, and others, Mr. Hay's motion was carried. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the business.

Aften the meeting had closed Mr. IT. Bastings said before they dispersed he wished to present to them a petition against Provincialism, to wliich he trusted everyone of them would attach his signature. Many others in various parts of the province were at one with him in the object he desired to accomplish, and if the petition were introduced into the Assembly this session and passed, the affairs of the country would be conducted in a just and equitable manner hitherto unknown. He trusted the Provincial Council of Otago would never again meet, but would meet with that fate which should have overtaken it long ago, namely, that of being hurled into the Bay, never to be resuscitated.

The following is the petition referred to, which is being numerously signed in the Tuapeka District : — To the Honourable the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. The petition of the undersigned residents of the goldfields and interior districts of the Province of Otago, Humbly Sheweth, -- 1. That the greater number of your petitioners came to Otago upon, or shortly after, the discovery of the goldfields in the year 1861, and from that period up to the present time had. and still have, grave grounds of complaint against the administration of the Provincial Government of Otago.

2. Your petitioners have, until a short time since, been deprived of the proportion of representation to which they were fairly entitled, in consideration both of their numbers and the importance to the province of the industry developed by them.

3. Your petitioners complain that the Provincial Council of Otago has, a general rule, shewn a determined opposition to proposals made for relieving the industry of gold mining from the enormous special taxation with which it has heretofore been burdened, and that the representatives elected for the older settlements of the province have, as a rule, exhibited a selfish, intolerant, and illiberal disposition towards your petitioners and the great industry which they h.ive been the instruments in establishing.

4. Your petitioners assert, and challenge proof to the contrary, that not even the semblance of fairness has been shewn to them in apportioning the expenditure of the revenue of the piovince ; and that even after sums have been voted for roads and public works of the utmost necessity to your petitioners, the older districts have been preferred in the expenditure of the votes, and the urgent wants of your petitioners have been entirely ignored and the votes allowed to lapse.

5. Your petioners would adduce, as an instance of the way in which they have been treated in this respect, the expenditure of the year ending Ist April, 186), in which the Government of CHago expended £25,000 without the authority of the Provincial Council, while sum* which hail been voted for urgent public works in the interior, amounting to £17,000, were allowed to lapse. 6. Your petitioners further complain that every obstacle has been thrown in the way of settlement on the public lands in the interior by the Provincial Government neglecting or refusing to open up land at the proper time ; by chatging excessive fees for survey and other matters, and by extraordinary delay in giving occupants a title ; and although during the last few years a little has been conceded to the argent solicitations of yam- petitioners, yet tbe injury that has been caused to their interests can scarcely be now repaired, and they have little confidence in receiving any greater consideration'for the future.

7. Your petitioners are of opinion that in addition to the matters of complaint before mentioned, and whiGh your petitioners submit are sufficient to shew that the system of Provincial Government is inefficient and unsatisfactory, the same is unnecessarily cumbrous and expensive.

Your petitioners thcrefoie pray that your Honourable House will take the promises into their consideration with the view of removing your petitioners from the control of the Provincial Government of Otago, assigning to them a fair proportion of the general and land revenues arising from their own industry, and devising a system of local government which shall be free from, the evils of which your petitioners complain. —And your petitioners will ever pniy.