Department Finds Plan Unacceptable

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31061, 17 May 1966, Page 16

Department Finds Plan Unacceptable

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, May 16. The commission of inquiry into the Southland Hospital Board’s affairs was adjourned two hours after it opened'today. The Health Department counsel (Mr J. T. Eichelbaum) said the department found the board’s proposals to end the dispute unacceptable in their present form and asked for time to prepare an alternative proposal.

The commission will resume tomorrow morning. A small number of people, mainly interested parties sat at the back of the room, but the front benches were filled by lawyers from Wellington and Southland. The Southland Hospital Board counsel, Mr P. T. Mahon, called for acceptance of the board’s proposal to end the dispute. The proposal is that Sir Charles Burns be appointed according to the board’s last suggestion—giving him full power of recommendation and the power to publish any recommendations made by him to the medical staff or to the board.

Mr Eichelbaum said this was not acceptable to the department and that counterproposals were being prepared but would not be ready for presentation to the commission until tomorrow morning. The commission of inquiry comprises Mr W. H. Reid, Dr. R. G. T. Lewis and Mr P. M. E. Williams.