CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 113, 14 May 1891, Page 8

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

DR BEALE'S CLAIM

Foe a very long time past Dr. Beale has been malduir a claim against the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for service rendered by him in attending outdoor patients connected with the relief afforded under the Board. The matter was brought before the R M. Court 10-day. Dr Bernard C. claimed £26 from the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The claim was for medical attendance h-om the Ist April, 1889 to the 30th June, 1889, the attendance being in connection with tho cut-door relief system of the Board. ■....„, , ~ Mr Cotter appeared for plaintiH, and Air S. Hesketh for the defence. Mr Cotter, in opening, stated tha about April, 1889, the Board and itt Chairman, Mr Aitken, considered that* Borne change should be made in the system of administering out-door relief. Dr. Beale had a conversation with Mr Atkin about the matter, and said at the time that it there was any danger of reviving the dispensary system he should be willing to do the work free till the Ist May. There was then an advertisement in the papers calling for applications returnable by the Ist of May for the position of of assistant house surgeon. After 30th June Dr< Beale did the work at £2 a week, which he received, but the Board claimed that for the previous 3 months during which he had been «ivine attendance he bad given his sewicoe free. There mitfhb be eouio reason for the Board to pay that for the month of April the services rai"hfcave been froo ; but he did nobsee why tho Board should aslc a medical man to give three months of his attendance for nothing. Mr Cotter then read correspondence on the subject between Dr. Beale and the Dr. Beale deposed that on the 10th or 11th April ho saw Mr Atkin in regard to outdoor relief. They bad some conversation about lbs matter. Mr Atkiu appeared to j

think there was some difficulty about the dispensary work, and witness said if there was any difficulty he would do the work gratuitously for that month, April, bo far as he knew there had been no application in reply to the advertisement referred to, and after the end of the month witness continued to do the work. Witness did intend to send in a bill for this month, but spoke to Mr Mays, a member of the Board, and on his advice decided not to send in a bill until the end of the quarter. He continued the work till the end of August, but the Board only paid him from the Ist July. To Mr Heeketh : As there was no difficulty, in his opinion, ho did not think ho should do the work gratuitously. He could see no difficulty then and he could see none now. He did send in an account for the time from the Ist May to the 20th June, but it was because he thought it better to get for the two months than to wait a long time for his money. When the arrangement was made there was no talk about salary. He did not bring , the case to Court before because he knew that several of the members of the Board were favourable to his claim, and he hoped the other members would see the jnstice of it. He claimed from the Ist April because he had gone to any one who came to him from that date, though he had nob got authority from Mr Atkin till the 10th April.

In opening for the detence Mr Hesketh said the evidence for the defence would be short. Air Atkin had been appointed to deal with the matter of outdoor relief with a view to a temporary arrangement. Hβ had arranged with Dr. Hooper to attend till the Bth April. Then there was a meeting of the Board and it was decided to refer thequestion to the Charitable Aid Committee. On the 10th, Dr. Beale waited on JVlr Atkin and asked if he could not have the appointment, saying he was quite prepared to do the work gratuitously. Mr Atkin accepted, being glad to have a man of Dr. Beale's standing. Dr. Beale said that sooner than Dr. Hooper should have it he would do it gratuitously. Mr Atkin would say that the offer had been made to do the work gratuitously. Mr Atkin dismissed the matter from his mind until the claim was sent in. The Board decided not to recognise the claim, but appointed Dr. Beale at the same time to the position at £2 a week.

(Left Sitting.)