STRONG PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 13

STRONG PROTEST.

HOSPITAL POSTS.

ABOLITION OPPOSED.

TAKAPUNA COUNCIL'S VIEWS. An emphatic protest is to be made by the Takapuna Borough Council against the termination of the appointments of Dr. C. R. Burns and Mr. J. M. Clarke at the Auckland Hospital. An amendment to this effect was carried at the council's meeting last night by the narrow margin of five votes to four.

The matter came up when the following letter from the Mayor, Mr. J Guiniven, was received:—

"I would strongly advise the Takapuna Borough Council to protest emphatically against the Hospital Board's decision to terminate the appointments of two brilliant men. viz., Dr. C. R. Burns and Mr. J. M. Clarke, which has been done regardless of public opinion and the petitions signed by 279 nurses and 3."i0 patients.

"Prior to the appointments of these two experts, the hospital was very badly organised, and when patients suddenly became ill during the night it was practically impossible to get a doctor. Owing to the inadequate nursing staff, sisters could not be found and very often the wards were supervised K y nurses who had not sufficient, experience to deal with urgent cases. All this lack of organisation had entirely disappeared once these experts had been at work. Had their services been retained complete reorganisation would have taken place and the Auckland Hospital would have been an institution to be admired instead of being the laughing stock of the whole Dominion.

"All the trouble seems to have been caused through the antedeluvian ideas of Messrs. Moody and Howitt. In a moment of unconscious hypocrisy Mr. Moody said that the abolition of the posts occupied by these two men was a matter of economy, but as soon as Mr. Moody was elected chairman he proposed squandering one and a half millions on a white elephant which he humorously termed a 'new hospital.'

"Takapuna has to pay the sum of £3302 by way of levy in connection with the upkeep of the Auckland Hospital, and as quite a number of residents of Takapuna enter the institution as patients it is essential that the council insists upon the best treatment being obtained."

While most members were personally of the opinion that the termination of the appointments was a mistake, some thought that they did not know enough about the matter to protest as a council and Mr. R. N. White moved that the council make no protest. This was amended by the Mayor and the amendment was carried. Mr. C. H. Wills, who thought that a less emphatic protest should be made, did not vote.