THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 128, 12 March 1931, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Sir,—l have read with much interest, during the past few years, of the deliberations of the Ashburton Hospital Board. The most casual observer must notice that there is a great deal of personal feeling displayed, and so long us this obtains very little can he executed in the matter of administrative reforms, which, even to the uninitiated, • are so essential to the honour and efficiency of the institution and the welfare of the patients—to say nothing ol the safeguarding of the expenditure of public money. It is obvious from the published reports of meetings, that tiie Board, in part, fears exposure of the true state of affairs, for, at the least suspicion of the ventilation, of internicine strife, what might he characterised -as the weaker section of the Board votes the members into committee, on the .recommendation oi an ex-officio member in some cases. TJie public are thus cheated of the details we have a right to know, so that they may judge the degree of the personal fend and its ramifications. • It is apparent that the workings of the Hospital Board during the past few years have been eminently unsatisfactory. It seems to have lost its sense of balance regarding its true functions, and its affairs seem to have been submerged in gratification of personal bias. Open abuse at; Board meetings directed at members wishing to place the cards on. the table is rile. it is evident that at least two members of the Board are making a bold bid aimed at the exposure of tendencies to maladministration, a suspicion of which, through failure of the Board to grasp the situation earlier, has made its appearance. This has divided the Board into two decided factions, each stubbornly maintaining their respective viewpoints, till matters have reached the stage where there is a deadlock from which . has developed a state that has given rise to regrettable personalities, with decided loss of prestige to the Board. There is not the slightest doubt that this state of chaos must he removed. What we want to know is, how is it to he clone? It is certain it will never lie eliminated by the Board itself; therefore it is plain that it must be done by soma independent tribunal. This 'commission should investigate, among other things relating to a period of seven years—1. Capital expenditure ; 2. FJxpenditure on equipment (with special reference to necessity and utility); 3. Staff salaries. d. Staff perquisites (with special reference to house and other allowances) ; 5. Internal administration (with spoon'll reference to co-ordination and function of departmental heads). “OBSERVER.”