HOSPITAL BOARD TROUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 280, 24 November 1903, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD TROUBLES.

<AN EXTFvAORDINARY MEETING.

AX IMPUTATION OF DISHONESTY.

NO BUSINESS DONE.

One of the most extraordinary meetLings of a local body ever held here was that of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday afternoon. The board met at a few minutes after two, and there was a fair amount of business on the order paper, but none of it was reached, for a question arising out of the proceedings at the last meeting was discussed until a-quai'ter to four, when the meeting broke up under the extraordinary circumstances mentioned below. The first part of the discussion was reported in our issue of yesterday, it will be remembered that at the previous mooting of the board Mr. A. Bruce made certain unpleasant insinuations in connection with the accepting of a tender for the new sterilising apparatus at the hospital. The chairman (.Mr. G. J. Garland) requested him _ to withdraw the remark, and on his refusing to do so, the chairman* requested him to leave the meeting, which he did. As reported in our issue of yesterday, Mr. Bruce drew attention to the fact that the episode was not recorded in t/he minutes, and on the motion of Mr. A. P. Friend this was remedied. Mr. Friend then moved, "That as Mr. Bruce at the last meeting of the board made an unwarrantable accusation against members of the board, he be now asked to withdraw the accusation or to prove the same." Mr. Friend went fully into the history of the case, detailing what the committee had done in considering the tenders. The tender of Messrs. Chandler, Massey and Co., which was accepted, was the lowest, and it was open for any firm in the city to tender. They had followed the advice of the honorary medical staff in what they did. "I throw Mr. Bruce's words back in his teeth" concluded Mr. Friend. Mr. Court seconded the motion. Me contended that the board had acted in the fairest possible way. Mr. Walters said he thought Mr. Bruce had been '"got at." Mr. Bruce: Don't you alarm yourself about that." Mr. Bruce, before replying, asked what the amount of the tender was that Chandler, Massey and Co. had got. The secretary replied that that firm's tender for the sterilising apparatus was 12/10. The next tender (that of Kay, Sheerer and Co.) was £369 9/11. Mr. Bruce said that when a public body called for tenders they should be fair and open tenders. Supposing the board were to call for tenders for bread and mention a certain baker's bread, that would not be an open tender. The board should not ask for Chandler-Mas-sev's goods, and say that that was a fair tender. He knew that firms bad cabled to Chandler, Massey and Co. for particulars, and had been informed that the goods could only be got through thoir'agents. When the board did any thin" of that sort they were not doing an honourable act. The whole thing was a bogus affair. After some, further discussion the chairman took up the discussion, and detailed the history of the case, and the negotiations between Chandler, Massey and Co. (whose agents were the Surgical Supply Co.), and the firm of Kav Sheerer and Co. (whose agents were Sharland and Co.), The honorary staff Mr Garland pointed out, had recommended that Chandler-Massey's material should be used. This firm s prices were the lowest, and the agents complied with the specifications. The firm of Chandler, Masse.y and Co. was a British firm. He failed to see how any one could say that the board had acted in a dishonest way. Mr Friend said the Finance Committee had had the representative of Rharland and Co. with them as well as the representative of the other firm, and had found Chandier-Massey's figures better than those of K a y-Sheerer's. The chairman then asked Mr. Bruce if he still held to his opinion. Mr. Bruce replied that he still said that the proceeding was dishonest. ' Mr. Friend (rising): I decline to sit 11P V C The chairman suggested the adjourn merit of the meeting.

Mr Friend: No. my term is over on Wednesday, and I decline to sit here when a man calls me dishonest. The chairman pointed out that there was businetw to be done. Mr. Bruce had not, brought. on<- bit of evidence for-

ward. . . ~. \fter some .further discussion Mi. Friend said he would move the adjournment of the board until they could get a quorum without Mr. Bruce. He would not sit and do business when accused of dishonesty. The chairman: None ot us will. Mr Friend then asked .Mr. Bruce if he would withdraw the remark, and on Mr Bruce declining, the adjournment was carried, the board to meet on Monday evening next. Thus for the second* time in succession no business was done at the meetings. While the members were leaving the room the chairman said: Do you still adhere to your statement, Mr. Bruce,? "Yes," said Mr. Bruce. "You must prove your statement m the court," said the chairman warmly, "or, by the Lord Harry, I'll make you."