DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

NZ Truth, Issue 473, 11 July 1914, Page 6

DUNEDIN HOSPITAL.

, , r» Treatment of Old Servants. Porters and Public Protest (From "Truth's" Diinedin Rep.J The Dunedin Hospital some short time feince reformed itself 1 internally and it is to be hoped m the interest* of the doctors connected with the institution and the outside .public, that the needed reformation,- will last. There are, however, many things and some 'folk connected with the hospital that need better treatment, a fairer deal, and some overhauling. Courtesy, is a virtue daily practised by the surgeons and nurses, and \ .often under very trying, circumstances. ; This must be admitted, but there is one toft who is still proving a hard taskmaster. It is a , wonder that the JHospital Board, which has been condemned by the Otago Labor Council for pestering the public vijho are .unable to pay hospital charges, does not apply a little of its officiougness to the martinet who pen-pricks all urouixd him m. the healing institution. .. It would be .unfair to allege, however, that the same man is responsible for the. English importation, who is to relieve Tom Shepherd of his job. Shepherd gets £150 a year as head day porter, and, according to public, patients and the nurses, hg has acquitted himself very efficiently. does not lose the £ 160, however \ (though that may come),, but, m order 'to make room for the Saxon import, Shepherd is relegated to a job that an Unfortunate Yankee; did ■■-'":. • AT Jfc6o A YEAR. The first thing that Shepherd heard about his imposition, though not m screw, was a nice little aid, over Johnny Jacobs's name m a daily dlshwipe, Intimating that, Johnny "would receive applications (With testimonials) for the position of! head' porter! at the Dunedtn Hospital, at, a salary; of £ 160 per annum, to rise t t6 £ 170,. by £5 increments." The ad. bore the adroit addition, "Personal canvass of members will disqualify applicants 1" v Both ad. and the little bit of nonsense tailed on wero not wanted, and altogether unnecessary. Was there not a fully qualified head porter m the hospital? If therewaa not, dl«l not the authorities already know ;the bloke intended for the job? What about the alleged Berrltlsh import? Do Johnny Jncobs, Dr. Faulkinor, and important Mr. Talboys know aught of the myalerloiis Saxon? If they didn't, someone; on the demnition Board has erred, or some hospital authority is 'working a surprise packet on the unfortunate porters under his beck. Why .should a Berritish bloke (no matter who signed his pompous papers 'of wrote them), or any' Dutchman, Dyak or Dane have it m his power tb actually create a vacancy m a New Zealand institution? ; That's a question for Purson Cunimlngs, Mr. Tulboya uhd the other dldduma who constitute the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board! to ask. Gus Button gets £185 a year at the Benevolent, and certain bounders growl because he docs not take Sinclair's at v £.100.. Of course', Button will do the washing-up at the £135, but tho cheese-parera have .a big grievance now because Sinclair worked at £100. Sinclair resigned mysteriously; perhaps he »■' '■•-. ' ; WAS TOO COMPETENT.' The competent Sinclair may have resigned because, "changes y in the management were contemplated." The same Board runs 'the hospital, and as there is a mysterious and unnecessary change contemplated m the position of head porter, it is. to. be hoped that the Board blokes will 'at* least ask a few questions. Who authorised tho vacancy, and who is tho mysterious lierrlttsher allegedly especially 5 imported to hop into tho; billet? 'Teraonal cunvass of members will disqualify applicants," so says Johnny Jacobs. Will Johnny and the members kindly poke Ihoir olfactory organs about and spot this Berrltishcr whom no one soema to know. . This mysterious bloke is taking tho billet at £150, to run to £170 In five years at increments of £G. This Is a direct broach of an agreement arrived at three months ago, that staff [salaries nurses', porters', etc. — were 'to remain at tho maximum thou iifod for five years. By some strange jigeney. the alleged Import commenced .lit £150 and is to reach £170 m flvo years, uud that, too, without any previous nurd work or rung-climbing m the institution. "Truth" does not qunrrel with the increase In tho said salary of JHSO, but It certainly condemns tho glut-ing breach of an agreement on behalf ot a newcomer when there whs* a competent ma^n m the institution upon whom tho Increase could bo tried. It seems to "Truth" tho Board blokes would havo been more honorably acquitting themselves m attempting to do something for THI3 UNFORTUNATE PORTERS. Theso over-worked individuals get £ 60 a year, but neither Medico Faulkiner, nor Parson Cummingß, Mr. Talboys, nor any of tho other nonentities ever suggest ono penny of a rise to these badly treated followu. That they arc badly treated, ihofr miserable pay an.U long hours attewt Nonu of them work less than twelve hourn a day, and /tho tlmo Is more often fourteen hours. Where are, tho charltabld humanitarians who are ulwayu growling In tho Jlmelight over mutters thut do not matter? Here they havo a chanco to do a good turn, will they do It? Messrs. Scurr and Myers at leant should stand out, and show up the wholo shabby business.