THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1899.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 14, 1 July 1899, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1899.

Ox Wednesday at the meeting of the Wai mate Hospital Board of T rustees,. the result ot the Board's application for an enquiry into the recent disagreements was Uead. The application was declined, as it was said that " in a mdre matter- of discipline between a Board' and its servants it would %d undesirable that tke Inspec-

tor-General should interfere. Boards had full power in such matters over and between theii servants and very exceptional conditions should exist to justify the Inspector-General's interference, which, as far as he was informed, could scarcely be considered to exist in Waimate's case." Just so. But the Board itself cannot decide the matter and if the higher powers refuse to do anything, in what position is the Board placed ? One thing is certain, and that is the undeserved censure should be removed from the nurhea or else some reason should be given for the censure. As we pointed out before there | was nothing to warrant its attachment to the nurses, unless of course, members of the committee had private sources of information or were actuated by other motives than a desire for fair play. How is this matter to end ? Personally, we think that there has been more trouble and anxiety inflicted upon all parties involved than Avonld atone far a fault much greater than any yet revealed. An attempt was- made last month to arrive at an amicable settlement, but the effort was fruitless. The Board war determined to hold a public enquiry. If they are still of that mind the whole Board should hold it. It is a pity so much zeal and anxiety for the lighting up of dark corners should be wasted. There is one point in the letter from the Minister of Education (vice the Colonial Secretary) which requires explanation. This was, " that so tar as he was informed " there were no special ciicumstances justifying the Inspector- General's interference, rimely when the whole Board js anxious for an enquiry, it should be granted. The furious htorm in a teacup that was raised Dy tli3 complaints of a patient was too ludicrous. Yet it hab for the moment put out of mind the former enquiry. Of course we .iqivo that it " will do harm to the Institution '" if the matter is dot cleared up, but why not settle one inmg at a time. We are not inclined to blame the chairman for bis action in bringing Nurse loyd before the Board, he did it ia good faith and to remove all suspicion of bias, but if the co-m-plaint had been against an oilier servant in the Institution would it have been brought so promptly before the Board. The Matron is quite competent to deal with the whole matter. The Board was supposed to be taken by surprise with this trivial complaint, but one member seemed to be fairly well informed on the subject, for he declared that three others in the ward were ready* to uphold the man's statements. The enquiry into the nurse's slowness will be held on Thursday next, and we hope all members will

turn up if possible, and see that nothing is done hastily. One nurse was told to hand in her resignation about two years ago for no definite cause that we have been able to discover. It is to be hoped that no similar attempt is on foot in this instance. We are not taking sides in making these remarks, but we will do what lies in our power to secure fair play to those concerned.