AN UNFAIR REPORT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 4, 16 June 1887, Page 2

AN UNFAIR REPORT.

We must really enter a strong protest against the Herald people re-printing a stale report of the Inspector of Hospitals in their issue of Tuesday night, and by carefully omitting the date, endeavour to leave a false impression on their readers. Dr. MacGregor, a fussy, faddy individual at his best, makes some very severe strictures, as the Herald says, upon the “ parsimony and neglect ” of the Trustees. We haye this precious report of the Inspector before us, and we certainly think that the Herald should not have printed it without commenting upon its utter falseness. But the policy of our friend down the street has always been to run down the place and everybody in it, and so it rejoices to find something to make capital out of. Let us examine this report a little. The reserve, says the immaculate faultfinder, is “ rough and unfenced.” It is, fenced all round, and although, of course, there are not a selection of flower bed

conservatories, fountains, and lawns, the Trustees have only a small sum to expend and cannot be blamed if the reserve is a little “ rough.” The Doctor-Inspector complains sadly of the drainage, and the Herald says not a word of the fact, which it knows or should know, that within a few weeks, that the whole drainage system is to be remodelled and put in due order. When re-producing the Doctor’s criticisms, it should have it: all fairness remarked that the faults complained of were being remedied, At the end of the report comes the phrase “All the faults I have mentioned are due to the parsimony and neglect of the Hospital Committee, for, so far as Dr. Pollen and the matron are concerned I have nothing but commendation.” This is most unjust and unfair, and we are not at all surprised to learn that the members of the Committee are greatly indignant at the Herald raking up an antiquated report of the Inspector and, re-producing his absurd remarks to their detriment.

One of the faults of which they stand accused is presumably (for the Doctor says all the faults) the fact that “the room behind the kitchen occupied by the nurses and cooks is disgracelul.” Surely the Inspector and the Herald do not expect the Trustees to go poking their noses into the servant's bedrooms. Although not lor one moment blaming Miss Guilbride, we might point out the matron, for whom the Inspector has “ nothing but commendation," might reasonably be blamed for this. All the alleged faults the Inspector so verbosely details have long been remedied by the Committee who are men of intelligence and standing in the place. They have only a limited sum of money at their disposal, and anyone who may have attended their meetings, as we have, must know full well how earnestly they endeavour to spend carefully and yet not niggardly the money with which they are entrusted, The Inspector visited the Hospital on the 13th November, 1886, and the Herald re-produces his report on the 14th of June 1887, nearly eight months afterwards, carefully leaving out the date, and quoting the slanderous statement of the Inspector as to the “ parsimony and neglect ” of the Committee. We say that such conduct is unworthy of a respectably conducted journal, and worthy of the most severe disapproval at the hands of its readers. BANKRUPTCY MEETINGS. It is certainly not pleasant to be “ stuck” in every bankruptcy, to see ones little profits quickly swallowed up by impenitent debtors, who cheerfully go “ bust ” and laugh their creditors to scorn. That is one point of view. On the other hand, it is equally disagreeable to find one self plodding steadily along, working hard, toiling long and late, and yet unable to make headway, but on the contrary going gradually to the bad, until creditors pressing and funds failing, recourse must be had to the filing of the schedule.

We will not say that all creditors are obdurate nor all debtors reckless and dishonest, nor would we venture to assert that every man who files owes his position to his own faults. But we do say, that once the bankruptcy has been announced, some reasonable amount of decency and order should be (preserved at the meetings.’ On more than one occasion recently there have been some very discreditable scenes witnessed. Differences of opinion or interests have led to unseemly wrangles in which personalities have been but too freely indulged in. The Deputy Official Assignee has a difficult task to fulfill—standing as he does twixt creditors and debtors, and his task is being rendered all the more difficult by the way in which the real business is interrupted by personalities and backbitings. We give the D.O.A. credit for honestly wishing to do his work well, but we certainly think he should be a little more self assertive, and compel those who are in fault to behave properl . Every allowance is to be made for men who have lost money or who are championing the cause of a friend whom they believe to be persecuted, but, at the same time, the real settlement of the affair is retarded and discredit brought upon all present by the term “ a rowdy meeting,” Our advice to all creditors is to assist in having the bankruptcy settled as quickly as possible, forevery delay means expense. To the debtors and their champions we would say, keep your temper and accuse no man of unworthy motives because he is anxious to get what is justly his own, or who is indignant at the reckless conduct of those who are indebted to him.

To the D.O.A. we would say, be firm and put down the wrangling by insisting upon respect being paid to your decisions.