Two Minute Books “Not Necessary”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30202, 6 August 1963, Page 14

Two Minute Books “Not Necessary”

(New Zealand Press Association) WHANGAREI, August 5. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Sir Leon Gotz) has told the Northland Hospital Board that, in his opinion, two minute books are not necessary.

In reply to a letter from the board. Sir Leon Gotz said that he had taken note of directions given by the board to its committees of, management which will also apply to board meetings These refer to the Public Bodies Meetings Act, 1962. “So long as these directions are acted upon in the spirit in which they were written, I think the requirements of the act will be met,” he said. At its last meeting, the

board introduced a policy of listing matters of a confidential nature cn a separate agenda, for discussion after the exclusion of the public, and of recording the confidential business in a separate minute book Two references to a ’ 'secret agenda” were made by board members during discussion today on ordinary business. The first came when Mr E. B. Weber asked about a short list of applicants for the position of engineer, and Mr J. F. Johnson held up a foolscap paper and said: “It's on the secret agenda ”

Loiter, when Mr S. S Green inquired if an item of business from the Kaiipara Hospital committee was included on the “secret agenda,” the chairman, Mr P. M. E Williams. interjected: “Wha( « this about a secret agenda? There is no secret agenda ” Several members objected to the use of the term and Mr Green said he had only been carrying on something that had been started by someone else. “Yes, well let's finish it, then." said Mr Williams, who added that the agenda was a "separate" one.

Copies of the agenda referred to were not made available to the press. At the end of ordinary business, Mr Williams moved that the public be excluded from the meeting while the board confirmed minutes of its previous meeting and dealt with items on the separate agenda which were of a personal nature.