HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 5 April 1880, Page 2

HOSPITAL MATTERS.

[To fSB EDITOB InANGAHUA. TIMES.] Sib,— The Hospital annual meeting being on Monday night for subscribers to elect a Committee, I should like to ask whether tbe general public are not entitled to hare a fair and honest explanation of matters before they are called on to subscribe. There is «o everlasting a call upon the societies for assisting by entertainments, or the miners for help in other ways, that the institution seems a source of continued drain, and sow it is fropoaed to give the Committee power h raise a tax of 10a a man. On behalf of a great number of people I say that few begrudge what is necessary or even liberal, but let us know how it is spent. Is it that the wardsman can spend what 3j[e likes, and that the doctor has never lieen required to overlook it, or check it in any way P Is it true that some of the retiring Committee hare committed their successors to paying a lot of money for drugs sent for a day or two Hack P Has this been done secretly and in collusion with the wardsman, or has the doctor re« , commended the action and approved of the list P Humor says that tbe most rfsareful seeresy has been attempted in this matter. Bnmor also says that tie object to be obtained is to make it difficult for any man not a dispenser to fill the wardsman's shoes, and also to find an excuse for increasing his pay. Something about the Hospital seems to an effect of driving all ©or doctors away. Dr Martin resigned twice and nothing but giving him increased pay two years running kept him here the three years be did stop. Tbe present medical man hastened to give notice to leave months before his first year was up and I understand he said if the times had not been so bad he would have remained in Reefton and only resigned the Hospital. We have got, wives and children depend* s en( on skill and experience for their lives and healths, and instead of tbe Hospital being a means of obtaining, it seems to be used as a lever for driving every good surgeon out of the place, and no doubt the doctor will be present at the meeting (on Monday night), I think it nothing but right that he should (and I don't think he would object) answer any questions touching the expenses and management of the Hospital, and to give his opinion upon the subject. I care not if the wardsman gets £50 more or less, as long as he does his work, but if there is to be any anderhand vestry work, it should be known who pulls the wires that affect so differently members of the same staff •and the Hospital. *» I remain, See $ INQUIRER. Beeften, April 2nd, 1880.