HOSPITAL BOARD CRITICISED

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26055, 7 March 1950, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD CRITICISED

• ♦ CHAIRMAN SUGGESTS NEW SYSTEM

REFERENCE MADE TO “ PETTINESS”

“I know of no organisation whert there is such ample and varied scope for pne to indulge his op her desire to help as can be found in hospital board work, but I cannot understand why so tnany side issuefc, pettiness, and (at times) political influences, together with professional jealousy, are permitted to influence a board which is comprised of 20 members—lo city and 10 country—who ostensibly seek election from the humanitarian aspect of the work,” said Mr V. C. Lawn, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, addressing the Friends of the Hospital last evening. “I often wonder whether the existing system of representation from the various districts is really in the best interests of such a huge concern as the North Canterbury Hospital Board, dealing as it does with a turnover of about £1,000.000 a year,” Mr Lawn said. “It is, ‘of course, appreciated that the composition of the board must be varied and it may interest you to know that, at present, included in the members we have five doctors and five women. I am firmly of the opinion that the general set-up of the board is not good, although I fully appreciate the desire of members ably to represent their areas.

Country Representation “Now that the hospital rate has been stabilised at £d in the £. I consider that the large country representation is unnecessary and could be reduced; but perhaps this will be achieved automatically when the proposed amalgamation of areas becomes effective,” said Mr Lawn.

“I also consider that the nominating bodies—the Citizens’ Association, etc. —should seeT that a balanced selection is made, otherwise it could lead to a more difficult position than exists at present. “There is need -for a larger representation of level-headed businessmen with time at their disposal to devote to the building, financial, and administrative problems. I really would go so far as to say that the affairs of the board could be better handled by a small panel of sound businessmen and women who could give most of their time to the- work and be adequately remunerated for their services. Unless we obtain candidates for election who possess sufficient civic and humanitarian tendencies to permit them to give the necessary time to the job, I consider that the existing system should be discarded for something better.

Attendance at Meetings “It may interest you to know that board members are paid at fhe rate of lOd an hour for the time they, spend in attending committee and board meetings, and you will, I am sure, agree that there is little inducement from the monetary point of view. However, I must be fair and admit that, for the most part, board members are. well-intentioned and give a very good service, although quite a few, for various reasons, fail adequately to attend their committee meetings and thus make it difficult to transact -the business, especially when a quorum is not always readily available.”