BULLER HOSPITAL BOARD

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1922, Page 6

BULLER HOSPITAL BOARD

WESTPORT, July 20. The Buller Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met yesterday morning in the County Chambers, there being present:—Messrs Caldwell (chair), W. 11. Alclntyre, R. Patterson, G. Hawes, W. R. Simpson, and Mrs Patterson. Accounts tabled were persued and passed for payment. The legality or otherwise of the postponement by the chairman of the special meeting of the Board called for the 6th of June was discussed, and a little of the old time heat revived, but eventually things calmed down, and a postion of the secretary’s minutes of the last meeting were deleted by consent of members. Air Hawes congratulated Air Simpson on his reappointment as County representative on the Board. He thought it was a decided indication that that body approved of his actions in tno past. He congratulated him on his appointment and welcomed him back io the table. Mr Mclntyre added his congratulations, and said personally, he had nA feeling in the matter, and -would never have challenged Mr Simpson’s seat at the table. As long as he came when ho could, ho was satisfied. lie had been to County meetings, but did not always roll up to the hospital sittings. He criticised his sudden interest in hospital affairs. He hoped his keen interest would continue. He v : b <1 members to understand that he was n<»t responsible for Mr Simpson’s seat being challenged. Mr Callwell (chair) mentioned ho had challenged the legality of Mr Simpson s seat at the table when Air Cottrell was in the chair. Ho admired Air Simpson as a man, but he did not think he was doing his duty to the ratepayers by absenting himself so much. However he had much pleasure in congratulating him upon his reappointment. Air Simpson thanked members lor the welcome. He had no intention of apologising for his actions in the slightest. Ho could say quite a lot in defence, but he was satisfied that the ratepayers had approved of his representation. Meetings had been upset, and postponed, and it was not possible always for him to attend. He had been criticised a good deal one way and another, but always managed to come out on top in the end. lie had never legislated in the interests of the few as against the many. He thanked members again for tho welcome. On the recommendation of Alatron Dunsford as a saving to the institution the Board decided to secure a tea urn for use at the hospital. The laundress applied for an increase in wages. Mr Caldwell said the Board should be careful. An increase for one would mean applications for increases from others. Airs Patterson said this was not necessarily so. Tho conditions under which the laundry was run were shocking. She did not knowhow they managed at all. On further discussion, it was decided to grant the increas-e. Air Lobb, Afaster of the Old People ’s Homo, notified the Board his report that ho had expelled one of the inmates. Members upheld the Alaster s action. A report from the caretaker of the poultry farm attached to the local hospital stated that for tho year ending 31st Alarch the profit was £92 15s. The following paragraph is taken from the July report of The Aledical Superintendent: The hospital at present is absolutely full, and I would respectfully request that the Board do all in its power to expedite the construction of the- additions to the hospital already so long delayed. Air Simpson criticised the action of Air Mclntyre in advocating an ambulance for Denniston. Ho thought he should have advocated one for Kara-

mea. It was far more urgent there than at Denniston. He thought M Alclntyre had overstepped tho mark. He asked the AI.L.C. if he had advocated an ambulance for Karamea, and he replied there had not been a request. Air Simpson protested. He said he had been “crying” for one. He, as Karamea representative, had asked before, and he again asked here and now for an ambulance for the Karamea district. Air Alclntyre, said the Hospital members had backed his request for an ambulance for Denniston when the Hon. Parr was here, a short time ago. Air Simpson maintained that Karamea was in a wretched condition, medically. After a fight for possession of the ambulance by the two representatives, Messrs Alclntyre and Simpson, the Board decided to await arrival of the ambulance, and then come to a decision re its location. In her report to the Hospital Board Alatron Dunsford stated that Nurse Linklater, who has just finished isolation ward work, was at one time a probationer at the Westport Hospital, and during her time gave the utmost satisfaction to the Afedical Superintendent and herself. Air Patterson stated that Nurse O’Brien had not given the best of satisfaction and mentioned that a case occurred recently where Nurse 0 ’Brien had refused to attend a womtfn who was already the mother of ten children. It was her duty to attend to such cases in preference to others in better circumstances. Under these circumstances he would not be in favour of retaining her services in the district. There were other members of the Board who knew the situation.

Mr Mclntyre thought Nurse O’Brien’s letter had explained the situation, He knew people swore by Nurse

O ’Brien’s work. All hacf done ~so whom she had attended. He thought Mr and Airs Patterson were up against Nurse O’Brien from the beginning. Nurse O’Brien had been up against a problem in this district, things had changed now. She would bo undbr tho control of the Board, and would be sent to cases us directed. Mr Patterson protested that ho had not been “up against” Nurse O’Brien, but was against her system. She was attending cases where people were in affluent circumstances, instead of people in poverty. lie brought the matter before the Board and left it to the chairman and secretary to go into. He took no part in the interview on the subject. Airs Patterson said Air Mclntyre was most unfair in his criticism. She certainly objected to Nurse O’Brien attending people in good circumstances and not giving attention to those in need and unable to pay. The chairman explained Nurse O’Brien had been interviewed in the Secretary’s oflice in regard to the case in question and she had stated that she refused to go because she was acting on departmental orders. He thought it would be a big loss to tho district if she went, and predicted that there would be a monster petition to keep her here. She was one of nine qualified nurses in the Dominion, and must be one of the best in her profession. He also said people who availed themselves of her services swore by her. Airs Patterson said, according to the Nurse’s report for 12 months, she attended 52 cases. She had collected only £5O for the year, but the speaker knew of people in good circumstances who had paid nothing for her services, and there were some in. poor circumstances who could not get her. She had nothing personal against her, but thought she should be available for country districts where help was really needed. I Air Alclntyre said Air Patterson had a grievance against the nurse. Air Patterson rose to a point of order. He objected to Air Alclntyre saying ho (Patterson) had a grievance against Nurse O’Brien. He had declared:— “I am not up against Nurse O’Brien but up against her system.” Dr. Foote explained that Nurse O’Brien was not at all under the control of tho Board. Air Patterson: “Then why are wv paying her.” Dr. Foote said Nurse O’Brien had not refused to attend the patient in Question. Nurse O’Brien had advised that she could not make any further engagement. She did not refuse to accept an appointment or interview with her. Air Alclntyre said it was a very important thing to retain Nurse O’ Brien’s services. Air Patterson had made a statement that he. and the Doctor had got their heads together and induced the Board to pay £4O towards her board. Dr. Foote objected. It was piffle to say so. It was a departmental move, to get tho Board to assist to the extent of £4O. It w’as explained that the Board, under Nurse O’Brien’s present engagement, had no control over her.

Dr. Foote and Air Patterson argued the point. Dr. Foote said the correspondence would prove that it was done through the department. Air Patterson: “Then there is correspondence that I have not seen and which I, as a member of the Board, have more right to be conversant with than you.” A motion was moved by Air Patterson to notify the Department that the Board would not retain Nurse O’Brien’s services. It was defeated. A motion was moved by Hon. Alclntyre to retain Nurse O’Brien’s services under conditions drawn up by the medical Superintendent, subject to the approval of tho Board. This was carried. The amended hospital estimates, as submitted by the secretary (Air Alaiti land) were adopted. ' A report is to be made on the posi tion of the Powell bequest at the next meeting of the Board. The Board decided to ask Parliament to amend prison regulations so that de faulters in the matter of maintenance of children should earn money for their support. ; The Secretary here wished to read a legal opinion from Air Skerrett but Air Patterson interrupted and wanted to know who the opinion was obtained by, and to whom it was addressed. Air Alclntyre said he got the opinion from Air Skerrett, under instructions from the Secretary, as directed by the Chairman. Air Patterson said he consulted wiiii Air Maitland, and sent him to Air Lovell for an opinion for tae benefit Gt the Board, not for himself. He diu not interview Air Lovell on the matter at all, but left it solely to the Sei cretary for his own protection. Air Alclntyre said the Secretary | wrote to him, under instructions from • the Chairman, and his action was not | any different from that adopted by Air Patterson himself. I Air Haines challenged any member i of the Board, as well as the Chairman I to go outside the ordinary .routine in I securing legal advice. If the Board had considered it and resolved to do so, it would be different. He thought the Board, in the circumstances, should accept no responsibility. Air Rimpson said they were not clear as to the extent of the Chairman’s powers and discretions. Air Callwell said if a chairman was I not satisfied with local opinion, he ; could go elsewhere. ■ Air Patterson: “No! not unless he consults the Board first/’ The Minis-

ter of Health asked me if I had read Air Skerrett’s opinion, and I said no. He was surprised. The chairman asked for the opinion to be read. Air Hawes: “You can recite it if you like, and we will accept it as a little diversion.” Mr Alclntyre: “It’s a very underhand way of doing things.” Air Patterson: “Yes, I agree with you it is very underhand.” A member:—“l move the opinion be laid on the table and that it be not read. ” Air Simpson: “I would like to knew the powers and the procedure of hospital meetings, Air Alclntyre: “The point of issue is Air Patterson wants to sec you (the chairman) have to pay for Air Skerrett ’s opinion.” The Chairman: “Oh, no, if 1 couldn’t pay for it, “Bob” would lend me a quid. I know he would.” Air Alclntyre: “The opinion is addressed to the chairman, it is correspondence and must be read.” The Chairman: “Then let it lay on the table.” Air Alclntyre: “It must be read, before it can be directed to be laid on the table.” Air Callwell: “If you look into tho powers of the Chairman you’ll find ho has the power which I have exercised.” On a vote, Air Skerrett’s legal opinion was direction to be laid on the table. Communications running between the Chairman of the Board, the Alinister of Education, and Frazer and Paine were read, Then the names of the bondsmen for the contract were read out. Air Alclntyre thought the contractors had not played tho game. He thought they should have submitted tho names of the bondsmen to the Board, as well as to the Alinister. The Board only knows of the bondsmen through telegram from the Alinister. Air Patterson here gave a report of an interview that he had with the Afinister of Health (Hon. Parr) on the subject of Alessrs Fraser and Paine’s tender, and the contract specifications. The Hon. Alclntyre then gave tho result of his interview with the Alinister. He objected to members of the Board, writing to the Alinister and slandering him, the Chairman, and Air Thomas. Air Patterson: “I object to that term. ’ ’ Air Alclntyre: “Then ho didn’t leave us with a name!” Air Patterson: “I object also to that expression.” Air Alclntyre: “Will you deny that you have written to the Alinister mentioning these names? Air Patterson: “I merely mentioned the names as members of the Board.” Air Alclntyre: “I would like to see the letter.” Air Patterson: “I have a carbon copy and will present it to tho Board, if required.” Air Alclntyre: “Did you refer to the Chairman as my socialist friend!” Air Patterson: “The Chairman is a Socialist?” The Chairman: “No, I am not!” (laughter) “I once was, but now L am a member of the brotherhood of man. ’ ’ Mr Alclntyre said he was only too pleased to give Fraser and Paine the contract. Air Hawes: “Give it to them! they have bought it with the blood and the sweat of their brows!” Air Alclntyre: “If tho bonds arc signed, I will be prepared and pleased to give the men the contract.” Mr Hawes moved that the bond as offered be accepted, and the solicitor directed to draw up the necessary papers.—Carried. Mr Hawes challenged a statement of Mr Alclntyre that he never had any intention of laying down impossible conditions for the contractor. He said that in tile very first place the only guarantee required was a £2OO bond. When it camo about that Fraser and Paine were the lowest tenderers, he had suddenly imposed extra and more stringent terms. Tho Chairman and Air Patterson were deputed to sign up the contract. It was decided to advertise for the position of clerk of works at £7 per week. Further matters of a personal nature were discussed and when the meeting closed, it was 5 p.m. Exchanges of epithets were neither Parliamentary nor complimentary at times at the Hospital Board’s meeting. Tho chief combatants were two Scots — the Hon. Alclntyre and Air Patterson. “Your’re a cur,” was the endearing term applied by one member of West port Hospital Board yesterday to another member.

A representative of a gold dredging syndicate waited on the Ellesmere County Council, Christchurch, and asked for permission to dredge a portion of- Ninety Alilc Bench (reports a southern exchange). Samples of sand i had been very good. He said that tho development work would give re- -- fto many unemployed. The chairman commented that once the works ot nature were interfered with no one could tell what would happen. The beach was already giving a lot of trouble. The applicant added that the syndicate had spent about £lOOO up to the present. There was no claim on the West Coast where concentrates, gold and silver, values were so rich. It was probable that the gold came from the breaking up of a reef at sea. The essays worked out at 3s per yard. A councillor gave notice to move that the previous motion opposing the granting of a license be rescinded, provided tho company guarantee to leave all culverts, creeks, and outlets in good order.