The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1910.

Evening Star, Issue 14531, 6 December 1910, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1910.

When the first elections for the reconstituted Hospital and Discipline Charitable Aid Board and Secrecy, took place, the degree of interest and activity displayed by the new voters was decidedly disappointing; and it was suggested in some quarters that the futility of the elective system had been clearly proved. We deprecated this pessimistic view, and urged that the mere existence of the democratic power was a great point gained. The electors, we ventured to predict, would not be backward in utilising their privileges if some important issuo were to be presented for their decision. It seems not improbable that at tho next election the public verdict will be sought on the question whether the Dunedin Hospital shall bo managed on "Star Chamber" principles. It is evident that under tho present regime "Discipline" and "Secrecy" are the sacrosanct shibboleths to which all the officials and employees of the institution must accustom their lips if they would win the approval—or, rather, if they would avoid the very active disapprobation—of the Hospital authorities. Some amazingly antiquated doctrines wore promulgated at the meeting of the Hoard last night. Tho sound of " Troputty, proputty, proputty " was not more dear to tho "Northern Farmer" than is the thought of "Discipline, discipline, discipline" to.

the minds of the chairman and some of his colleagues. To do Mr Walker justice, he makes no attempt to disguiso his hostility to the Press and the publicity which the Pross afford. Newspaper representatives must not be admitted into the hospital wards—unless (as Mr Blackie pertinently suggests) there is a preliminary pledge that the report will be substantially eulogistic. Dr Whetter (having, with questionable judgmont, partaken of humble pie) was let down very lightly by the Board last night, with an expression of hope that " in future ho will recognise the responsibilities attaching to his position " the responsibilities of meticulous discipline, secrecy, and avoidance of reporters. One member, who subsequently expressed a quite ducal contempt for "Tom, Dick,' and Harry," dissented from this lenient decision; and it may be admitted that (as Mr Talboys shrewdly remarked) "thewhole trouble emanated from Dr Whetter." If the junior medical officer had not forgotten tho shibboleths, tho nurse who dared to criticise the management would never have had a chance of " allowing herself to bo interviewed by a reporter " ; for the medical superintendent would rather cut out his tongue than utter tho "disloyal" word giving facilities of critical inquiry to the " publicity " fiend. Indeed, from tho " Star Chamber " standpoint, we aro not sure that Mr Wilkinson went too far in describing Dr Whottcr's action as a "crime." If ho had not admitted tho reporter, "the wholo thing could havo been saved," as Mr Walker naively observed ("saved" being a hospital euphemism for "hushed up"). It is only fair to note that reason and liberty and light and common sense wore not entirely without champions at last night's meeting. Mr Blackio made at least one luminously forcible remark, and Mr Hamol (with some assistance from Mr Keast and one or two others) tried to emphasise tho fact that this is the twentieth century, not the seventeenth. But tho chairman's eagerness to pooh-pooh " whatever tho "Press and the outside public might " think " was, if possible, outdone by Mr Myers (whose personal tactics wo find it difficult to characterise), and by Mr Loudon, who regards dissatisfaction on tho part of a nurse as a breach of discipline and just cause of virtual dismissal. Here this girl committed a flagrant breach of discipline, and was, besides, not in the favor of her superiors. They must maintain discipline. Also, it was not wise to retain a dissatisfied employee.

Observo that "this girl " was "not in Hie favor of her superiors." Can it be that there's the. rub? Nurse Woodward's fate, however, is still in suspense, and we are not without hope that tlio majority of tho Board will yet recognise the undcsirability of flouting public opinion in this matter. It is useless for the devotees of hyperdisciplinarian secrecy to persist in kicking against tho pricks. Tho " outside public" (pace Mr Walker) are tho masters of the situation, and they have no relish for tho methods of bureaucratic obscurantism. By tho way, wo quito agree with Mr J. M. Gallaway in regretting that tho official inquiry into hospital conditions was not open to the Press and the public. It is a matter of deep regret and personal interest to me tiiat . . . the Board acquiesced in the substitution of a private investigation for a public; one." . . . Having conceded that an investigation was expedient, I submit that no investigation which is conducted in private can possibly bo expected to restore that confidence in the management of a public institution which is essential to its effectiveness. It is quito possible that the Board may yot seo the wisdom of insisting upon a public inquiry.

Wo are afraid, however, that to some members of the Board Mr Callaway's suggestion of a "public" inquiry must have appeared exceedingly shocking. It is so painfully incompatible with tho principles of hyper-disciplinarian secrocv.