NO QUORUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 91, 19 April 1933, Page 9

NO QUORUM.

WAIHI DEADLOCK.

WAGES AND BILLS UNPAID.

SPECIAL AUTHORITY SOUGHT.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)'

WAIHI, this day.

The deadlock in connection with Waihi Hospital affairs continues. No payment of current accounts has been made, relief workers cannot obtain sustenance, and the staff are Without their salaries.

A special meeting of the board -was convened last evening by the chairman, Colonel Jowsey, for the purpose of passing the estimates, appointing a matron and senior and junior sisters, and passing the accounts, but it lapsed, no quorum being present.

At the ordinary meeting of the board, held just before Easter, three members,

Mrs. Hughes and Messrs. Copestake and

Cooper, who had opposed the dismissal of-the matron, failed to attend, and so there was no quorum, As the result, the payment of relief . sustenance, staff salaries and -wages was held up. When the time arrived last evening to open the meeting only four members were present, but the meeting carried on informally. A requisition was read from the three absent members, asking the chairman to convene a special meeting for the specific purpose of passing the accounts and the estimates, failing which they would request the secretary to convene the meeting. The request was refused, it being pointed out that under the by-laws it required the chairman or five members to convene a special meeting. Referring to the. non-payment of the board's accounts, the chairman stated that special regulations issued by the Health Department provided: "If at any time during a meeting there. shall be no quorum the chairman shall state the fact from the chair and no business shall be transacted." Colonel Jowsey added that he had been asked by Mr. F. V. Clark, solicitor, to take-the passing of the accounts first in order, but he refused to permit a minority to dominate the majority. It was resolved to telegraph to the Health Department, asking authority to pay the accounts and to appoint a new matron, and to point out that the business of the board is at : a standstill, owing to the action of three members. The secretary stated that 24 applications for the position of matron, and 30 for the position of senior and junior sisters had been received. He was instructed to forward the estimates, as prepared by him, to the Department. One member, Mr. J.' F. Robertson, described as, the employment of child labour the engagement of a maid under the age of 17, The chairman said he strongly objected to a girl under 17 attending the male ward. It was decided to convey to the matron the board's disapproval of the engagement, which was a contravention of the by-laws. Concluding the meeting the chairman described the recent inquiry by a representative of tlio Health Department, Dr. " Shore, as "one-sided," because Dr. Shore had refused to provide copies of the evidence given by the matron, nurses and medical superintendent, which had been taken: privately and separately. . .