HOSPITAL POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 11

HOSPITAL POLICY.

MAYOR'S STATEMENT. " NOT VERY CONVINCING." COMMENT BY MR. MOODY. Points raised by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, in his statement on Saturday concerning hospital affairs, were replied to to-day by the chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody. Mr. Moody commented that the statement by Sir Ernest was "not very convincing,"' had something to say about "smoke screens" and "shocks tactics," and assured the public that if the board was left to do its duty it would not fail them. He also pointed out that the bpard proposed to proceed with its building programme as speedily as possible notwithstanding attempts to obtain a Royal Commission and a conference with the local bodies.

"After a week's delay, which apparently has caused deep anxiety and thought, Sir Ernest has published a statement in connection with hospital matters/' stated Mr. Moody. It is not a very convincing statement. At one moment the Mayor is well at sea with his 'smoke screen' and next he is high and dry-ashore combating 'shock tactics.'

"When statements are made at a public meeting and published through the Press, the best and only means of reply is through the Press and it behoves local bodies and their officials not to make statements which will cause another local body resentment, particularly where such statements are incorrect and inaccurate.

"Should Have Been More Careful."

"Firstly, let me deal with the Mayors statement of Mr. J. Tyler's 'strictures.' But are they strictures? Surely true statements cannot be construed even by one possessed of an ordinary degree of intelligence a® strictures. I repeat that the city engineer should have been more careful in his statements. Is it not a fact that the city .engineer, or his department, has been seen by the Director of Town Planning and acquainted with the board's consultation with him ? The Mayor states that I do not know him. I do.

"Like himself, I have no intention of being drawn into newspaper controversy. The board intends to get on with its programme as speedily as possible notwithstanding attempts to obtain a Royal Commission and a conference with the local bodies. A Royal Commission into the incidence of hospital taxation and rating may be an admirable step, but is the public to wait until its finding is released and thus allow present conditions to continue ? Need For New Hospital.

"On Thursday night last the board met a deputation from the New Zealand Institute of Architects, and these gentlemen, as citizens of Auckland, admitted the urgent need of a new hospital and definitely stated that the present state of affairs should not be tolerated any longer by the board or the public. The Mayor asks what has the board done to remedy the incidence of rating. This, as has been stated before, is the duty of the Government, and the board is not impudent enough to arrogate to itself the right to dictate. Let me say, however, that the board is keeping a watchful eye on all matters at the hospital, and is trying its best to reduce unnecessary expenditure, and has already effected many savings. What, therefore, is the board's duty? To wait for a Royal Commission's finding? To wait for a conference of local bodies? One could expect little or no constructive help from such a conference, nor would it be fair to expect the delegates to have I to worry about hospital affairs. Why should the Hospital Board not shoulder the full responsibility and be prepared to take the blame, if blame there is to be, for its policy? It is prepared to do this. All that need be said to the public is: 'Leave the board to do its duty. It will not fail you.' Intolerable Conditions. "The public can take it definitely that the present conditions, as known to | the board, are intolerable and it feels that speedy steps must be taken to remedy such conditions. I should like to extefl# to the Mayor and also to all representatives of local bodies an open invitation to visit the hospital at whatever time is convenient to members in order that they may inspect conditions at the hospital, and if they will communicate with Dr. Craven, the medical superintendent, he will atrange for the 1 inspection. It might be that if this is done at once, 'seeing will be believing,'" Mr. Moody eondeded.