RESIGNATION OF DOCTOR.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20862, 23 May 1933, Page 3

RESIGNATION OF DOCTOR.

ASHBURTON COUNTY HOSPITAL. DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO BE APPROACHED. The refusal of Dr. H. S. Billcliff to reconsider his resignation as medical superintendent of the Ashburton Public Hospital at a special meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday led to the introduction of a proposal that he be asked to consider accepting the position as part-time medical superintendent. This movement was ruled out of order by the chairman (Mr W. G. Gallagher) on the grounds that notice of the proposal was necessary, and the matter was held over for a further special meeting next Monday. After a heated discussion, during which the chairman refused to accept a motion to disregard his ruling, Mr Gallagher announced that he was going to place the matter before the Director-General for Health <Dr. M. H. Watt). Dr. Billcliff, who put in his resignation two weeks ago, stating that it had been prompted by outside influences, wrote that he could not continue in his position as medical superintendent under the present conditions. Mr W. H. Wilkinson asked if there had been any suggestions of a possible arrangement. In all these matters there was generally some way out, he said. Could there be any alternative to the resignation?

The chairman (Mr W. G. Gallagher): The position is that Dr. Billcliti has resigned. We are here to consider that, and not alternatives. Any further suggestions must come before another meeting. I move that the resignation be accepted with regret. Continuing, Mr Gallagher said that Dr. Billcliff had given excellent service to the hospital and the community. In the circumstances, however, the board had a duty to accept the resignation. In seconding the motion Mr W. Bryant stated that it seemed the board had no alternative to accepting the resignation, since Dr. Billcliff: had made up his mind. The doctor had not only given service to the patients in the hospital, but also to the board. He had been in Ashburton for eight or nine years and had made a name for himself in the community. When Dr. Billcliff went to England a certain seed had been sown, and after his return it grew. One member of the board had said that there had been pinpricking, but jp that statement he had not gone far enough. The speaker would say that the boot had been put in. Dr. Billcliff had given a great service to the public, and they were losing a very capable officer. Mr R. Oakley said that there had been much favourable comment of Dr. BillclifT's work as medical superintendent, and the speaker had hoped that the doctor would reconsider his decision to resign. I Mr C. A. Campion stated that it seemed that they could no nothing but accept the resignation with very deep regret. There might be some way of retaining Dr. Billcliffs services, but, as the chairman had ruled, that must come on later. "Until we are without Dr. Billcliff we will not know what we have lost.

Mr Wilkinson endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers concerning the services Dr. Billcliff had rendered to the hospital. The motion was carried. Part-Time Appointment. Mr Frampton: In view of the fact that the country ratepayers have expressed themselves very definitely, I feel that we must take some steps to retain the services of Dr. Billcliff at the hospital. I move that Dr. Billcliff be asked to consider the question of his appointment as part-time medical j superintendent of this hospital. I The chairman: That is new business and cannot be taken now. It is a question of policy. Mr Frampton: I must protest against your ruling. The chairman: I have ruled. Mr Frampton: I feel like moving that your ruling be disregarded. The chairman: If you do I will close the meeting. Do you accept my ruling? Mr Frampton: No! Mr Bryant: I don't accept your ruling either. Mr Frampton: I move, 1 that your ruling be disregarded. Mr Bryant: I second that motion. Mr Frampton (addressing the chairman): I cannot understand your attitude. The chairman: We have come here to deal with this matter of Dr. Billcliff's resignation, and notice must be given of a motion to change the policy of this hospital. That is final. Mr Frampton said they were there to make arrangements to fill the position rendered vacant by the medical superintendent's resignation. Mr Bryant: It is quite legal to rule against you. We have got you in your place. You are only chairman. We vote against you. Dignity of the Chair. The chairman maintained that his ruling should not be disobeyed and that they should proceed with the next business. . Mr Campion: There is a motion before the board that we disagree with your ruling. The chairman: I am not going to put it. It is an indignity on the chair. Mr Frampton: I feel like putting it myself. Mr Bryant (to the chairman): We put you there, and we are justified in putting this motion. The chairman: I have ruled that alterations in the constitution must come before the board in the form of a notice of motion. Surely that is sufficient. Mr Frampton: I think you are wrong, 'but I will give notice. Mr Bryant: Then you withdraw. Mr Frampton said that he did not withdraw, but, since the chairman would not put the motion to the meeting, there was no other course than to j give notice.. At this stage a letter was read from the Lyndhurst-Lauriston branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union expressing appreciation of. Dr. Billcliff's services and stating that the union had every confidence in him and hoped that he would reconsider his decision to resign.

Chairman's Statement. The chairman then made the following statement: — "As chairman of this board, and having the dignity of the board to maintain, I must reply to the statement from various quarters emanating from our medical superintendent, that undue influences or pin-pricking by two. members is the cause of his resignation. May I now state without fear of contradiction that neither Dr. J. R. Wells nor I (the persons accused) have found it necessary to drop to such tactics. Our actions in every way will bear the closest investigation, our whole desire from time to time being to introduce reforms, such as an honorary staff, in the best interests of the community. Can it possibly be contended that our action is a personal one against the medical superintendent? I say emphatically, No! The change, if brought about, would become the board's policy, which he as the board's servant should be loyal to perform. Again I must reiterate that no proof has been provided of his statement of undue influences, and the public can only infer that proof cannot be provided and that such a statement is only imaginary or promulgated with the sole purpose of damaging two representatives in the eyes of the public. I can confidently leave the whole question to the public to decide whether our hospital is to be governed by the board or by the medical superintendent, and would

welcome any enquiry by the Minister for Health into the whole question. That is my reply to the wild statements that have been made, without the slightest foundation of fact to back them up," concluded Mr Gallagher. Board Asked to Resign. Mr A. G. Foreman, clerk to the Mount Hutt Road Board, wrote stating that at a meeting of ratepayers and residents of the Mount Hutt district, the following resolution was carried unanimously: "That this meeting of ratepayers and residents of tnrMount Hutt district regrets that tne members of the Ashburton Hospital Board have permitted influences to creep in, thereby causing the resignation of the medical superintendent, and unanimously calls upon the whole board to resign." In reply to the resolution, the chairman read another statement, as follows:—"Surely this is the most ridiculous request ever made in this county to a responsible body of duly elected representatives carrying out as thev are very difficult and thankless duties in the most trying iime . s probablv in the history of the board. By what right does a small meeting in Methven wish to dictate as to whom shall represent the borough of Ashburton or the town district of Tinwald, to say nothing of the large county of Ashburton. The meeting regrets that influences have been allowed to creep in, thereby causing the resignation of Dr. Billcliff. Is there any proof of that statement? None whatever. Dr. Wells has always made his position clear and fearlessly endeavoured to carry them out in the best interest of the patients of the hospital. The ratepayers have on every election returned him at the head of the poll, thereby endorsing his action; yet a few people in Methven include him with the rest of the board to resign. I was returned at the last election at the head of the poll, with 1277 votes—l 76 votes higher tnan any other candidate, and my views were well known to the electors, who, I believe, thought I was capable of independent thought and action, and would give effect if possible to what I considered best for the hospital. I have clone so. Now let me examine the legal position. Tne petitioners evidently do not know that if the board resigned there is no provision in the law for an election other than the statutory ones, every two years in the borough, and every three years in the county. Any vacancy occurring between these statutory dates is filled by the contributing bodies, county council, borough council, and Tinwald Town Board. Thus, there is no provision i/i the law for what the meeting evidently wanted, an election. That will come in two years' time in both county and borough." Mr Gallagher also referred to the fact that the chairman of the Mount Hutt Road Board repudiated the statement that the Mount Hutt Board called the meeting at Methven, explaining that he was merely asked to preside in accordance with custom. "I consider the petitioners have been left stone cold," he concluded.

Alleged Pin-pricking. Mr Frampton (to the chairman): Do | you ever consult Dr. Billcliff with rei Karri to hospital matters and help him in his work, or do you stand aloof? The chairman replied that when an employee of the board made accusations against the speaker he could not be expected to take notice. Mr Frampton said that Dr. Billcliff's work at the hospital had been exemplary. The Director-General for Health had told the speaker that they had an excellent medical superintendent. If the chairman could not work with the medical superintendent ne had no right to be chairman. Mr Bryant referred to the fact that some time ago a member of the board, at the instigation of some outside concern, had brought before the board the question of purchases of certain goods by the medical superintendent. It was afterwards proved that Dr. Billcliff had been buying the goods cheaper than could be obtained from the outside concern. "That is the nature of pin-pricking to which there has been reference," he said. "It is all very well to plaster up your stuff," Mr Bryant continued, addressing the chairman. "The other member also puts along slides to suit the public. I must be an idiot or a fool if I cannot see through things here." he concluded. • Th< L chairman announced that he intended to place the whole matter before the Director-General for Health (Dr. M. H. Watt). In accordance with Mr Frampton's notice, it was decided to call a special meeting for next IVronday. After the board had risen, notice of a turther special meeting, signed by Messrs F. Frampton, R Oakley, C. A. Campion, W. Bryant, and W. H. Wilkinson, was framed as follows: "We hereby call a fft eC i ia t, me !l ti f lg ,_ of the Ashburton Hospital Board to be held at the conclusion of the special meeting, the meeting to be held on Monday. May 29 for the purpose of consideration of any S «£ the medical staffing of the Ashburton Public Hospital"