McKellar Receives Present

A good deal is often said about the enormous expenditure of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. An incident which took place at the last meeting goes to show one of the reasons for the vast cost of that body. It appears that through the decrease in infectious cases it has been found necessary to close the South-Western Hospital, and three months' notice was given to the Medical Superintendent. The Board thereupon proceeded to make a present to Dr. Mckellar of 1,000 pounds, notwithstanding that gentleman is in the prime of life, and almost certain to be re-engaged by the Board should epidemic disease unhappily break out in the metropolis, possibly in the coming summer. The majority of the Board would not even consent to defer the consideration of the proposal for three months, and so the ratepayers' money is squandered by a Board that is non-representative in its character, and consequently beyond the reach of public opinion.

Source: The Hackney Express and Shoreditch Observer, March 23, 1889, Page 2