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richly deserved in his own country.
However, although the pro5pect5
for the future appeared favourab le at the commencement of the new decade,
Hall knew only too we ll that the period of convalescence could be long ,
that improvements in health were gradual and slow to be realized, and that
careful vigi lance was required to prevent a sudden relaps e.
The events
of 1860 confirmed the correctness of his opinion.
On January 7 Hall established the fundamental requisite for a
healthy society: that all Boards of Management of charitable institutions ,
including that of the General Hospital, the New Norfolk Lunatic Asylum,
the Orphan Schools, and the like;
the Muni cipal Counci l, the Board of
Education, the Royal Society and other bodies should be freely open to the
pres s.
Postponements of meetings for want of a quorum would not
be likely to occur in the future, were the delinquents by
whose indifference such delay became necessary, exposed
through the pub lic press . The apathy so characteristic of
many of our voluntary associations for the pub lic good would
cease to be the rule, were the drones of the hive publicly
pointed out - the working bees might then unite to drive out
and replace such humming but honeyless shams . 3
On the same day, at the first general quarterly meeting of the General
Committee of the Benevolent Society, which was established on October 31,
1859 , on the initiative of Archdeacon Davies to assist the increasing
number of paupers , Hal l put his belief into practice by successfully
proposing that the press be admitted to the Executive and general meetings .
That he was also no "honeyless sham11 was proved by the long and faithful
service over a period of twenty-one years which he gave to that society
as an executive memb er and President .
However, whilst he was cognizant
of the power of the press for good, Hall was also aware that it could be
dangerous to the public welfare at times , and was quick to contradict or
condemn anything he considered harmful.
The incalculable mischief such an unwarranted assertion is
capab le of producing makes me feel it a duty both to humanity
and my professional brethren, to give such an outrageous
advertisement a direct contradi ction,
he wrote in indignation to the Mercury on February 4, when an advertisement
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announced that sixteen females had died in childbirth in January . On the
contrary , there had been only eight deaths registered during the thirteen
months ending January 31, 1860, and in many cases these were actually due
to other causes . Hall considered such a trifling mortality gave mothers
3
Mercury, January 10, 1860 .