ELECTION OF THE HONORARY MEDICAL STAFF.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 86, 10 April 1906, Page 3

ELECTION OF THE HONORARY MEDICAL STAFF.

i DOCTORS' COiIPLAINTS.

. At' yesterday's meeting of the Auckland "Hospital and' Charitable Aid Board Mr. L. J. Bagnall read a copy of.'a letter', of thanks forwarded him by Dr.-Scott, and .sent byDr. J. Hardi'e'Neil to the chairman arid members of the Manger c Road.Board, expressing his thanks for the sympathy and assistance "which the Board had uniformly accorded him in all matters relating to the management of the Auckland Hospital. , A letter from Dr. Scott to Mr. Bagnall was also read forwarding, besides Dr. Neil's letter of thanks to the Mangere Road Board, a newspaper extract of that ietteT. Dr. Scott questioned the right or propriety, of any person presuming to read, the secrets of the ballot, and still more publishing his comments thereon in the manner indicated. When he had read these letters Mr. Bagnall moved that they be laid on the table. This was seconded by Mr. Bloorofield, but Mr. Bruce dissented, thinking that letters not addressed to the Board should not be taken any notice of. As far as the election was concerned, he had never spoken to Dr. Neil. Mr. Knight agreed with Mr. Bruce, and thought the letter was merely that of a disappointed man against that of the successful one. The Board had plenty to do without dealing with petty matters of that kind. Mr. Casey thought it was a bad way for a man to commence his duties. He would have served the best interests of the Board and himself if he had kept his honours to himself. Mr. McLeod said he certainly opposed the proposition. If they were going to open the door to that kind of thing he did not know what the business of the Board was going to drift into. Dr. ■ Scott knew perfectly well how to communicate with' the Beard. In his opinion the whole thing was a petty medical .. squabble which should be settled by the Medical Association and I not by the Board at all. Mr. Bagnall, iv reply, said one of the | letters was addressed to the chairman and members of the Mangere Road j Board, and was a letter of thanks to I them. As to Dr. Scott's letter being that of a disappointed man, there might be something in that, but, even if it was so, it was rather a matter of regret for the Board.than for Dr. Scott, who had long years of faithful service behind him. He was sure Dr. Scott had intended no slight to either.the chairman or the Board in addressing his letter as he had done, and members need not vote against the proposition on that ground. Any member had a right to bring forward matters which he thought were in the interests of the Board, and I move that the communication lie on the table. This matter, seeing that it was most unusual and uncalled for, should be made public, as an indication of the Board's disapproval of such statements being sent to local oodics represented on the Board, The motion was _ then put by the chairman and lost." The secretary of the lion, medical staff wrote to the Board, stating that the staff noticed with regret that the number of votes given to successful and unsuccessful candidates for positions on the staff had been published in the. Press. The staff, suggested that such publication was injurious and undignified, and that it "would be wise to sec that the Press were not given such information in future. Mr. McLeod said that it was not in the Board's power to deal with the. mat-" ter, but the Press might note the staff's resolution. The course of electing the staff in committee was open to objections. Mr.. Knight said that in the ease of elections to public bodies the successful and unsuccessful candidates, and the votes given to each, were always published, and he thought the Board could do nothing in the matter. Mr. Blooiufield thought that member* were not responsible for the action of the Press, but there was no necessity to give the information referred to by the staff. Mr. Bagnall was of the opinion that nothing should be done which would in any way cause a slight to the unsuccessful candidates. After Mr. Bruce had expressed himself that nothing could be done by tlie Board in the matter, it was dropped.