" PREPARE FOR BATTLE." KUMARA READY TO FIGHT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 148, 19 December 1907, Page 7

" PREPARE FOR BATTLE." KUMARA READY TO FIGHT.

DR VALINTINE AND HOSPITAL TRUSTEES. iBT TBMCGRAPH. — PIIESS A3SOCUTIOH.I IIOKITIK A, 18th December. In the course of an interview with the Kumara Hospital Trustees last night, Dr. Valintino, Inspocior-Genernl of Hospitals, asked whether the surgeon-super-intendent of the institution was using the hospital for private practice The chairman ropliod that an enquiry , had been held, but the matron refu&ed i to give any pvidenco on the subject. Dr. Valintino stated thnt he had strong reason to believe that such was the caso, nnd_ tho position did not show much intclligengo on tho part of tho trusteeß. The latter remark was strongly resented by tho trustees. In reply to ono speaker, Dr. Valintine saicf ho woulcj not deny being hostile to the Kumara Hospital, and as ho had other things to enquire into ho would not sit and listen to further recriminations. Tho Inspector-General rose politoIy, wished tho trustees good-night, and retired n:uid a choru3 of "ta-ta's" aud "boohoor, from tho trustees. Tho Mayor of Kumara, Mr. Murdoch, who is a member of tho board, mado a speech regretting tho scene, and calling on the people to prepare for battle. It would now bo necessary to fight for tho oxislcnco of the hospital, wliion had boon ably maintained by tho trustees for tho past thirty years. On Mr. Murdoch's motion it was resolved that Dr. Valinlino's rcforonco to tho trustees bo viewed as a gross insult, and be reported to tho Minister, also that n public meeting bo called for next Monday night to oppose any effort to closo tho Kumara Hospital, and if necessary sond n deputation to Wellington to interview tho Premier and Mr. Fowldo. Tho trusteos jilio carried a voto of confidence in Dr. Morkano, tho surgoon-su-perintendent. Last year the expenditure on thehospital amounted to £1859. TII3 In-spector-General, in his report on hospitals presented to Parliament last session, referred to tho institution as follows:—"On 22nd April, 1907, there rtero 23 patients in the hospital. Eight of whom were 'old men. The new ward is an excellent one, but the female ward is not fit for surgical cases. As this hospital is within twelve miles of Greymouth, sixteen milci of Hokitikn, and within live miles of the railway by a good road, I cannot see tho need foi' its existß"*<',e,'