"BAD TASTE."

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

"BAD TASTE."

SYMPATHY FOR COUNCIL.

REPLY BY BOARD CHAIRMAN.

"Once again Mr. Guiniven has shown his bad taste, bad judgment and, in addition, colossal ignorance of hospital affairs," said the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, to-day. "It must have been somewhat painful for members of the Takapuna Borough Council to have to sit and listen to the outpourings of a defeated candidate for hospital honours.

"Mr. Howitt's name was coupled with my own in the discussion. Mr. Howitt defeated Mr. Guiniven at the last poll, and in my opinion the ratepayers of North Shore were wise in their choice. Takapuna seems to be one local authority which criticises the hospital, and the only reason appears to be the personal defeat of Mr. Guiniven by Mr. Howitt. It seems to me to be exceptionally bad taste for one local, body to criticise another in connection with appointments. No responsible or reasonable local body would have the effrontery to criticise departmental matters in connection with another local, authority's appointments. "Mr. Guiniven is hopelessly out of touch with conditions at the hospital, and I give the lie direct to allegations of inadequate nursing staff. My sympathies are with the members of the Takapuna Borough Council. One would have thought that in the interests of the medical men concerned it would have been better to have refrained from such comment at a public meeting. The ratepayers of North Shore should be grateful to Mr. Howitt for his services in their interests, and- the excellent work he has done for the hospital.