DISTRICT OF WAIKATO HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2692, 12 October 1889, Page 2

DISTRICT OF WAIKATO HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Special Meeting. At the special meeting of the above Hoard, held in the Hamilton Borough Council Chambers at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday, a full Board was present—viz., Messrs Primrose (presiding), Von Stunner, Sandes, Seddou, Tea.sdale, Brunskill, Clement--, Chepmell and Hunter. The Chairman said that before going into tho special business he would like to read a letter he had received from Dr. Kenny in the morning, as it might change the face of affairs ; and he would liko to lay the letter before them at once. He then read the following letter :—" Hamilton, 10th October, 1889. Chairman Waikato District Hospital. —Sir, —In deforenco to the opinions of some members of your Board, and of those ratepayers of the Waikato district who consider a surgeon entirely for the hospital an unnecessary expense, and if your Board desire to retain my services, I will, with your Board's permission, beg leave to withdraw my resignation. —I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Gko. (i. Kf.n'ny." For the information of the Board, the minutes referring to the special business before the .meeting were read by the Secretary. Mr Chepmell said that as Dr. Kenny had seen fit to ask to withdraw his resignation, he would move that the Board grant him permission to do so. In seconding tho motion Mr Clement said that he would gladly support the motion. He was the first to speak in opposition to any increase in the expenditure, as he had been requested by the locnl body of the place he represented to do so. The Board had no objection to Dr. Kenny, nor had they found fault with him, and he thought that it came with bad grace from the doctor to ask the Board for an increase in salary, seeing that they were always satisfied with the services rendered to them.

Mr Seddon supported the motion, and wan pleased that Dr. Kenny had wiitten that letter, ;is it showed his kind heartedto those gentlemen who were opposed to him, but he was also wry because there was still the same collision between his outside practice and his duty to the Jsoard. This, as was shown by the doctor, had occurred, and would occur again, so that the presmt arrangements could only last for a time. Tlie j}ow Board would find this so, and in a short time t|)e medical officer will be compelled to resign aga[n. The work of the Hoard was increasing, and t.he; doctor will not be able to snrve two masters, and tlie/) as a gentleman he must resign. With regard f.o newspaper reports about extravagance, thay v/eta nof true, and no one could prove them to bo so, Mr Hunter ennsiilered thsra Jjad been nothing else but extravagance, and was speaking about tho proposed extension of the buildings as reported in the nowspapors when he was called to order by the Chairman. Mr brmukil) said he could iv.it" let some of Mr Seddon's ntau;ments go unchallenged, he could po some of the way wjth him, but not all. Hβ considered that thure was no ui'obability of the number of patients at the Hospits-l beting increased so largely as to require lilt wdjvjded attention, yf a doctor.

The public works in the district were now stopped, and they had had several accidents from these. Flax mills certainly woro being extensively erected, but he did not think they would forward many cases. Ho was well pleased at tho doctor's letter, and was glad to see the good feeling among the members of the Board. He believed that the executive had worked for the beat for the institution, and as far as possible been economical. The Board would have to bo careful, and work as cheaply as they could. Mr Teasdale was rather surprised at tho letter. Ho had urged tho postponement of the question of fixing the salary to tho next ordinary meeting, as lie wished to avoid the expense of the special meeting. He was .satisfied with tho doctor, but could not see his way to vote for an mere isa of salary by AILfiO, and he did not think it right of Dr. Kenny to wish to be relieved in one month. Mr Sandes said he cr.uld not agree with Mr Brunskill's remarks as to the expected diminution in the number of patients, as ho thought the number would be largely increased, and the work of tbe Hospital would grow larger and larger. He hoped Mr Brunskill was correct, but was afraid Ihe was not. Ho was glad to see that the. Board was a "happy family" again, as lately there had been a good doil of personal feeling, and ho must congratulate the members on the good feeling now prevalent. Tho Board, as a whole, did not recognise tho amount of work cast on tho House Committee, who did all that work without remuneration. He thought the Board ought to give these gentlemen credit for doing their best for the institution, and not locally for the place. Mr Brmiskill said at the next ordinary meeting of the Board he intended to move a vote of thanks to tho llouss Committee.

Tho Chairman said that certainly there had been a goodly number of cases iu from Waiteti (where the public works have been going on), but at no time during tho year had there been so many patients iu as during last month, not one of which was from Waiteti. This would hardly bo;u out Mr isrunski!l's statement re tho decreasis in patients. Mr Brnnskill slid of course the more they worked up the Hospital tlio more it would be advertised, and as ths natural consequence of advertising tho more patients thi'.v would gu't. Mi Muntijrsaid a complaint had been made t> him at Ohanpo. A young man wont to s-ie Dr. Kenny, who took him to tho Hospital and thero larje=d an abscess behind his oar. The patient went several times afterwards and was chuged five shillings by tin iloct >r e.ich tim.\ Ho wanted to know whether tho doctor was to keisp that money, or whether it was to 1.0 paid inb> tho Bard's fund-'. Mr Von Stunner said that if anyone lmd a charge to make against tho doctor they should do *o in writing. Tiio Chairman ruled Mi- Huntur out of order.

Mr Chopmell in reply stated he was glad the letter had been received, as it w.is a relief to him in an nnpleas-int difficulty as the present case rested upon liis vote, but he would not have gone as far as proposed. When they first appointed a surgeon it was :ml.y a temporary arrancjeni?iit as regards pri vat j practice. It was his own opinion that t-lu-.y w«ro paying highly for their medical service--, heeausi! they gave the right of private practice and that gavfj the doctor's privat') patients a call on his time, which made it tantamount to sub-idising the doctor. Tho arrangement was the best that could bo inado at tho time, and ho was satisfied that it should remain so for ,i while longer. He thought t'iat the number of cases would increase. He had watched the management from the beginning, and was pleased with it, ;>nd al.o with the troitment received by pitients at the hands of f.he medical officer. With regard to the question of extravagance,, he had said enough at a previous meeting to satisfy members that the B mrd cannot be charged with extravagance. They had only been two years in existence, and in that time had accomplished much, bought land, built, furnished and equipped tho hospital, and built a retuge, and fever ward, and the expenditure in future would be only for actual requirements. His county diirinpr tho two years had paid about £1,100 (£7OO and £<00)', and for tho sixteen months they had been joined to the Thames Board, liitrl had to pay almost £2000, and only sent a. few patient* to the Thames Hospital. Mr Chepmoll's motion was then put and carried.

Mr UiMinsilcill gave notion to move sit the nost ordinary monthly meeting of tins Board, "Thiittho resolution proposed and cariied at tlie last meeting to the linVct th.-it the doctor's sjvvices be retained solely f"r the hospitil be rescinded"; also, "That the .Secretary be instructed to write to t ! io Secretuies of the vaiio-,<s hospitals, silllll ■ >i , in size and other circumstances to thi< Ims. pitil, asking as to the cost and etlieumcy nf their respective medical services ; also, whether any of them require the. undivided attention of their n.udicnl oilioer, and whether ho is allowed private practice " Dociok":! .Salary.—Mr Suddon askt'.d p».nni<sion to withdraw his notice of motion re the doctor's salary, and Mr Cliupnicll moved that Mr Seddm be allowed to withdraw his motion.— Seconded by Mr Sandys and carried unanimously. Skuih-ji'aiiy's Sat.ahy.—ln accordance .vith notice eivon, MrChepmell moved that the secretary's salary .shall be fixed at tISO per annum. —Seconded by Mr von Stunner. —Mr Chepmoll said he moved this aw the duties of secretary had largely incro,is;u since his appointment, and he was now acting as House .Steward as well.—Mr von Stunner said t!)at he was in favour of an increase as ho knew the amount of work that the secretary had to do, which outside members could not know. Ho had been requested by the Hamilton Borough Council to oppose any increase in salaries, but he did not intend to take any notice of that ,as ho was, while on the Board, acting on his own responsibility, and would not be dictated to by any local body.—Mr Drunakill was in favour of an increase but not such a large one, and moved as an amendment that the secretary's salary be £1-0 per annum. —Seconded by Mr Hunter.— The amendment was then put and lost, the votiug being : —Jj'or : Messrs Brmiskill, Hunter, and Teasdalu. Against: The Chairman and Messrs von Stunner, Sandes, Seddon and Chepmell.—Mr Sandes moved as a further amendment that the secretary's salary be £125 per annum.— Seconded by Mr Seddon and carried.—The original motion was then put and lost.—lt was resolved that applications be. adver-ti.-.ed for si secretary at £V2~>, once in Tiik W.UKATO TI.MiW. Davidson's Cash.— Mr Davidson wrote enclosing a cheque for ±!8, and asking for some alterations in the conditions under which he held hin land.—The secretary was instructed to reply th.it the Board would take his case iDto conaideietinn. (iBAVKfo.—The Chairman said that bo had been informed that the Hamilton Burough Council wore carting gravel from Hospital endowments. This he thought should be stopped as the Council were very particulsir when some gravel was wanted at the Hospital.—Mr Sandes in conjunction with the secretary was appointed to enquipe jnfcp the matter and to stop any more being taken, charging 3d per load for all taken. This was all the business.