HOSPITAL BOARD POWERS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27962, 8 May 1956, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD POWERS

LESS AUTONOMY HELD LIKELY

More power was to be taken from the North Canterbury Hospital Board —“the biggest business in the South Island’’—and vested in the “Wellington bureaucrats,’’ said Mr J. J. Brownlee at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association last evening. “Three or four years ago I warned the association of what was going on. and asked whether we were going to control our own hospital board affairs or have them controlled by bureaucrats from Wellington,’’ Mr Brownlee said. “Number one of our pre-election promises was that we would strive for more autonomy. Have they done so? I am afraid they have not, and we are shortly going to get an act that will take more power from this local body. “Perhaps this association is only interested in putting up candidates. Perhaps it should interest itself in what the candidates do, and if they don’t do it, do something about it.” said Mr Brownlee. “Do you wish to comment,” the president (Mr W. P. Glue) asked the chairman of the hospital board (Mr V. C. Lawn). Mr Lawn shook his head, and there was no further discussion.