IS IT A CABAL?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1985, 22 January 1907, Page 2

IS IT A CABAL?

To tho Editor of tho Gisborno Times. Sir, —In tho roport of tho hist looting of tho Hospital Trustees tho Chairman is reported to have made a remark that calls for strong condemnation’from the Amalgamated Friendly Societies Conference niid one that is an insult that should not he tolerated by those who are banded together for tlio purpose of alleviating distress, and tho encouragement of thrift. Tho words used by the Chairman wore ns follows: “There is dissatisfaction, hut my impression is that it is not widespread and that it is purely a cabal. I cannot help but think that the hands which have boon pulling the strings 1 lmvo been few, and always the same !” , To - call the Friendly Societies plotters and intriguers (lie used the word ; cabal) is. an insult I hope the con- ! foronoG at its next meeting will onI ter a strong protest against. |, To say that those who are moving (i.e. the Friendly Societies) are a few for the Chairman’s information I i may say that the members of tho various Friendly Societies total about 2000, and fully half of these have wives and children, so that the Chairman’s few total with their wives and families roughly between 5500 to (5000 of the population of the district.

Arc wo not entitled to have a voice ill tlio management of an institution wo support without being called plotters and intriguers as designated by the Chairman of tho Hospital Trustees?—l am, etc.,

A MEMBER. To tho Editor of tho Gisborno Times,

Sir, —The Chairman of tho Hospital Trustees is reported to have stated that it is his opinion that its only a few “pulling tlio strings,” etc. Truly, “a Daniel come, to judgment.” “He visited the Hospital and found no complaints ” , Why should there he complaints just now, seeing that the institution has been in the throes of trial ? and by the way why were thoso important charts lost concerning the last enquiry ? The receipts from some of the lodges, whose members subscribe to t.lio friendly societies’ committee, havo fallen ,of fifty per cent. "When enquiries are made delegates state that members are dissatisfied with the treatment and management of the hospital. It has been stated by ex-patients “that a certain official is more fit for a position in a reformatory than-in a hospital” ; that when ordered chicken broth chicken is non est, or it rains oftener than the arrival of chicken broth. If a Royal Commission were appointed to make enquiries the Commission would not say “that the grounds are very nice,” as one of tho Government officials is reported to have stated. Tlio chairman also remarked that “blessed is the country without a history.” Is ho so selfsatisfied because stories more suitable to him and men of his kidney are turned to his liking? Does his remark apply to individuals? Is he happy? I think, Sir, thoso who havo a grievance, or ask for an explanation of hospital management must be tolerably correct, when to havo things status quo it was necessary to pack the meeting the other evening. Such a meeting was never known in the annals of the hospital, and why such a commotion ? Was it anxiety for the hospital, or an opposition raised to thoso who feel it a necessity to assert themselves. There is as much filth on Gladstone road from a short distance beyond the fireboll to the Kaiti Bridge as there is in a similar length of road in Chicago, and what use is it to make charges or ask for justice when the same individuals are mixed up in everything, that menaces the welfare of a magnificent district. If the nurses are constantly occupied with house-work how do fever patients fare, and when do the nurses have classes? I, as you are aware, lost my own son at this institution, and I think it would be a farce to complain. Let us have a Royal Commission appointed, and the residents will be content.

R.S. — As a resident of the district I tender my silicorest thanks to your paper for its efforts on behalf of the district. S. F. STANTON.