UNDER FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 102, 2 May 1935, Page 14

UNDER FIRE.

HOSPITAL CANDIDATE.

PERSISTENT QUESTIONERS.

GROCERY ORDER INQUIRY.

For over an hour Mr. E. H. Potter, who is a candidate for re-election to the Auckland Hospital Board, was occupied last evening at the Gordon Road Hall, Mount Eden, in replying to questions in connection with the alleged irregularities in the supply of groceries under the Auckland Hospital Board's relief scheme. At times the meeting took a lively turn, and there was a running fire of comment from sections 'of the audience when hospital affairs ,wero touched upon by the candidate, ■•who also is seeking election as Mayor of the borough and re-election to the Transport Board.

Mr. Totter claimed a high -standard of efficiency for hospital administration, saying that complaints of unrest were not justified. He paid a tribute to the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, for the way he had carried out his work.

This drew a reply from an interjector at the back of the hall, who said that because of a deputation on Monday a discussion was forced at a meeting of the Hospital Board on Tuesday, and certain allegations and charges had been made about the relief department.

Mr. Potter: I have heard something said about it.

A Voice: Well. I am going to ask a few questions. You were at the meeting? —Yes, I Was there.

Do you think the Relief Committee should have allowed these tVings to go on? —So far nothing has been proved. It is alleged that the dockets have not been checked. Is that correct or not? —I cannot say.

"A Proper System." After a rapid fire of questions Mr. Potter said the Hospital Board had a proper system. There were now many people seeking relief who a few years ago would have preferred suicide. The board had to make it as easy as it could for them. A capable man was at the head of the department.

Certain, charges have been made, but they had' yet to be proved. They had not considered the report, as it was only a. piecemeal document, but if the system was wrong it would be altered. It might bo desirable to allow an order to be given to any grocer in the district in which the people lived. The board had placed its contract with a big and reputable firm, and so far as he knew, the firm had carried out its duty.

A Voice: How can we find out whether the people received their goods?

Another Voice: What we want to 'know is: Aro these dockets checked up?

Mr. Potter: There is a Government '^audit.

8 First Voice: Well, the report of the J; committee to the Hospital Board was ■that the dockets had not been checked •for three years.

"Checked and Audited." Mr. Potter said all grocery orders were '.checked by the office staff and audited by the Government Audit Department. < When a member of the audience made a speech instead of asking a question, the chairman, Mr. L. S. Rickcrby, said: "Please ask questions." M Mr. Potter: Let him go. ■ Proceeding, Mr. Potter said the Hai« pital Board had decided that the contractors should continue until an investigation was made. Ho believed an inquiry would disclose very little. The trouble had been the rise and fall of prices. The Hospital Board could not follow up thousands of parcels to see that the recipients got the right goods from the grocer. A voice: The board should see that the dockets are right. The board has neglected its duty. Another Voice: It is said that this has gone on for years. Have you done your duty to the board? Mr. Potter: I am not a member of the Hospital Board Relief Committee, and I cannot go over their heads and undertake their work. That would be a reflection on them. Another Voice: Why all this "hush, hush?"

Mr. Potter: There has been no "hush, •hush" at all. If these charges are substantiated the contract will be cancelled.

Inquiry Proceeding. A Voice: It work out at about £2000. Mr. Potter: Well, the whole thing is being investigated by a qualified accountant. It might suit some people to go to their own grocer and present their orders.

A Voice: We want fair play. Mr. Potter: You will get it. The board has to accept the lowest tender. It is not fair for me to comment until the investigation is made. (Applause.) A Voice: Would you support a magisterial inquiry into the allegations about the contract? Mr. Potter said that the proper course was to await the investigation. There

had been a lot of talk about dockets,

but if accounts were meant he could I say that they were properly checked. He had never found one thing wrongly charged. A Voice: Would you support a resolution asking for the resignation of the secretary of the board? Mr. Potter: He is not responsible.

Ho is the official head. J repeat that eo

far there has been no evidence of irregularities. We have had only statements, and they have to be proved to the hilt. If they are proved the contractor will be held responsible and the board can take action. He is a man of considerable standing, and from what I have 'heard 1 don't think that he knows anything about it. Our work iii carried out by a staff, and in addition there is the Government auditor. I am not going to say that these men are wrong. He stM some of the speakers had been men of dishonest actions.

A Voice-. We accuse nobody. ... Another yoice: Be fair. : Mr. Potter: Well, I cannot give any ;more information. A man at the back of the hall moved a vote of thanks. A Voice: And confidence. The mover of the motion. —No. Tho motion was not proceeded with, but another motion endorsing Mr. Potter's candidature was carried unanimously.