WELLINGTON HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14658, 6 May 1913, Page 8

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL BOARD.

ELECTION OF DR. PLATTS MILLS

HER POSITION CHALLENGED

(special to '"teb press") WELLINGTON, May 5. A question having been raised regarding the legality of the election of Dr. Platts Mills, who established a record for New Zealand by polling 14,088 votes for the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on Wednesday last, the secretary of the Board wrote to the Board's solicitors, stating that the question had been raised whether a member of the honorary medical staff of the Wellington Hospital is capable of being elected or appointed as a member of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. In tho course of their reply, the solicitors stated that "the answer to the question put must be, in their opinion, that a member of the honorary staff is not disqualified for holding such position from being elected or appointed a member of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, provided such member of the honorary staff makes no pecuniary profit, even of the smallest nature by holding such office." When the letters quoted above had been read at today's meeting of the Hoard, Mr G. Nash asked who had raised a question as to the legality of Dr. Platts Mills's election. Mr Baldwin: I will answer tho question— __ Mr Nash: I have got the floor. When the question is answered I havo a resolution to propose. The Chairman said that the matter had heen mentioned to him ov a member of the Board. He replied that he had no authority to give advice, and ho referred the member to the secretary of the Board. * j

Mr Nash : Who is going to pay for the advice on such a ridiculous Question? . "■ H

Dr. Platts Mills rose to speak amidst applause. She said she had consulted Mr A. H. Hindmarsh before the election, and Inter Mr D. M. Findlav. both of whom informed her that her position was quito a legal one. Mr Baldwin said that he had mentioned thti matter to tho secretary of the Board with tho sole desire, of ensuring that Dr. Platts Mills's position should be in no way prejudiced. If tho Board objected to pay for the legal opinion, he would do so himself.

The Chairman: The matter has now been cleared up. and I hopo wo will havo no more of it.

The Board proceeded to the next business.

Spoken to on the subject by a "Post" representative-to-day. Dr. Platte Mills tfaid she also had heard the rumour that her election was to be challenged. Long before the election, when the -question of her contesting the election was raised, she took legal advice, and also the advice of some of her friends in tho medical profession, and they all said they saw no'reason why she should not be a member of the Board as \ve)\ as a member of the honorary medical staff of the Children's Hospital. She was firmly of opinion that a person on the honorary staff of the Children's Hospital would bo better able to judge what was required than would anyone who had not the same opportunities. Indeed, it was tho fact that she was a member of the honorary staff that actuated her in accepting nomination for a seat on the Board. However, in. view of the fact that her position had apparently been challenged, she had consulted with Mr D. M. Findlay, who expressed tho opinion that her position was absolutely unassailable. From the wording of the Act it was evident that "any office or place of profit" only referred to a position from which the person holding it derived some pecuniary gain, and the position of honorary physician certainly could not bo included in that category. Dr. Platts Mills added that before the election took place,'Mr Hindmarsh gave a similar opinion. However, although she intended to be present at tho meeting of the Board this afternoon, she would not vote on any question until the legal position had been definitely ascertained.