The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-24 00:00:00

FINANCE COMMITTEE

The proceedings of this committee contained a minute
to the effect that the vestry clerk having submitted an
analysis of the outdoor inspector's investigation with'
respect to Mr. Kelly's vaccination account, it was re-
solved that payment in respect of 205 cases be
allowed, bat that the remaining 174 cases be dis-
allowed in consequence of Mr. Kelly's having neglected
to see that the work was effectually done. Mr. Kelly was
called before the meeting, severely reprimanded by the
chairman, and informed_ that any recurrence of similar
conduct would render him liab'.e to dismissal. It was
also agreed that the vestry clerk be desired to intimate
to the vaccinators of the parish that they would be re.
quired to perform the duty of vaccination personally, or
to see that it was done in a proper manner by some com—
petent deputy approved of by the committee ; but that
in all cases it was imperative that the vaccinators should
personally verify, by subsequent inspection of the cases,
that each vaccination, whether originally done by them-
selves or their deputies, had been at length successful.

Mr. Denton urged that the punishment of Dr. Kelly
was wholly inadequate to his offence., It would be
urged by some gentlemen, no doubt, that there were
umstances connected with it, but be
he circumstances rather increased than

maintained

diminished the offence

Some four years ago there were

rumours afloat that the medical officers were imposing on
the parish to a very large extent. The medical commit-
lat 'day commenced an investigation, the

tee. o

charges were proved,, and
were dismissed. They were dismissed upon the
ground of their own certificate, which he would
read. Every medical officer handed to the Vestry-
clerk in vaccination cases the following certificate :
« I do hereby declare that the whole of the vaccinations
above.charged were personally performed •by myself,
and that the success thereof has been personally verified
by myself in subsequent-inspeotion4." Upon the ground

of having violated the deClaration in that certificate,
four of the medical officers,. he believed, were dismissed.
Mr. Kelly was appointed to one of the, districts, and he
believed, had served in the capacity of vaccinator pre-
vious to his appointment under one of the very officers
who were discharged upon that occasion. (No, no.)
Whether that were an or not, the vestry had acted very

leniently with him.
Mr. Woodruff : You should be accurate when you are
dealing with a man's character. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Denton said, the vestry treated him more leniently
than any other officer. They allowed him time to take
out the degrees which he required to fill the situation,
and after he had taken possession of the position of out.
door medical officer, he commenced on the same groud
and in the same way as his predecessors. He believed
that imposition had been going on for the last thve
years. (Oh, oh.) The committee had found Dr. Kelly out
in 174 cases, they found him out in attempting to deceive
the parish, and impose on the board in 174 cases. He
thought, under these circumstances, the duty of the
vestry was to do as they bad done in the instance of his
predecessors—to discharge him at once as an unfaithful
servant. What was the use of their reformatories, what
was the use of education at all, if they allosyed men who
had education to practise that sort of thing? If they
found a poor boy in the street pilfering, what would
they do ? They would have him sent to jail and
whipped. But in this case what had occurred ? A man
deceived them, imposed upon them, was no longer.fit to
be their servant, and yet he was retained in his situation.
The vestry ought not only to discharge him, but they
ought to prosecute him for the offence. Finally, Mr.
Denton moved as an amendment, that Dr. Kelly's con-
nection with the vestry be terminated.
Mr. Critchley seconded the amendment.
Mr. Woodruff said, it was scarcely necessary to make
any comments upon Mr. Denton's remarks. It was quite
clear that Mr. Kelly, one of their medical officers, had
been guilty, with reference to vaccination cases, of very
great irregularities, and that he had submitted accounts
which, upon investigation, could not be allowed. But,
while he thought it was quite right for Mr. Denton to
look after the interests of the parishioners, and protect
their pockets from any imposition, he did not think Mr.
Denton was right in charging a man with fraud, unless
he was sure fraud had been attempted, (Hear, hear.)
•Tf it had been proved to the committee that there was
any intention of fraud, he thought Mr. Kelly would have
been instantaneously dismissed. (Hear, hear) But
although Mr_ Kellly had been guilty of very great
irregularity, for which he had been punished by having
about £l3 deducted from him and being very severely
reprimanded, the committee were not under the impres-
sion that there was any actual fraud in the case, and,
therefore, they did not consider that they would be
justified in terminating his engagement in so summary a
manner as Mr. ,Denton appeared to think necessary.
They thought the course they had taken would be quite
sufficient to show that the medical officers must conform
to the regulations laid down by the board. (Hear.)
Mr. Owen said, the case was quite different from these
in which the officers were dismissed.
Mr. Denton : Not at all—quite the same case.
Mr. Owen said, in the forther instances vaccina-
tions were put down which were never performed-
a number of fictitious names introduced. (Hear,
hear.) In this instance it was quite another
matter. '1 be medical officer had performed the vaccina•
tions, but had not gone to see that they were successful.
The cases, therefore, in which this neglect was proved
were struck off by the committee. There were no cases
in which some portion of the duty, the former part, had
not been performed. (Hear.)
Mr. Denton said, there were 65 eases which could not be
found at all. The committee acted imprudently' in giving
him .a fortnight's time to find out and establish them. He
found them out of course in the meantime. •
Mr. Woodruff said, any one who knew the habits of the
labouring classes, knew how frequently they changed