Doctors Accused Of “Scare Tactics”

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31027, 5 April 1966, Page 3

Doctors Accused Of “Scare Tactics”

(New Zealand Press Association! INVERCARGILL, April 4. Members of the Kew Hospital visiting medical staff were accused today of using “scare tactics to overcome constitutional authority” to obtain the appointment of a Wellington doctor as acting-medical superin-tendent-in-chief to the Southland Hospital Board.

The charge was made by the acting-chairman of the board, Mr M. W. Grantham, and a board member, Mrs T. M. Watson.

In the statement, in which he denied that the hospital services at Kew were in any way disrupted, but admitted that there was a shortage of staff. Mr Grantham said: “The issue between the doctors and the board is the desire of the former to overthrow constitutional authority as far as hospital appointments are concerned.

“The doctors, and by no means all of them, are clamouring for the temporary

appointment of an eminent Wellington man, retired from hospital services, and are using scare tactics to gain their objective.” Mr Grantham said it would not be correct for anyone to claim that Kew Hospital services were in any way disrupted by the dispute. There was a shortage of staff in several departments but that was not the fault of the board as there was <. general shortage of staff throughout New Zealand.

“Every effort is being made by the board to fill the vacancies which were not brought about by reason of the present dispute.”