Coast board hears protest delegation

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 2

Coast board hears protest delegation

By PAT TAYLOR in Greymouth About 400 people waited quietly outside the West Coast Hospiital Board offices in Greymouth yesterday for almost two hours while eight representatives addressed board members inside, opposing the planned closing of the Reefton Hospital, the Williams ward at the Westland Hospital, and the enrolled nursing programme.

Those outside waved banners protesting against the planned measures, and were watched by a contingent of police. The protesters, who had come from Reefton and Hokitika in convoys of cars for the meeting, applauded their representatives who spoke before and after the meeting, and finally applauded the board’s chairman, Mr David Copeland, when he addressed the gathering on Cowper Street outside the board’s offices. The atmosphere was milder outside than inside. Mr Copeland had ruled at the outset that the deputation could make its submissions, and be questioned by board members, but that he would not allow a debate. This drew criticism from a board member, Mr Peter Neame, who said that the deputation deserved an answer before withdrawing. He was told several times during the hearing that he had already questioned a

speaker. Finally, at the end of the question-and-answer session with the deputation, when he had been refused the right to move a motion that a working party be established, Mr Neame challenged the chairman’s ruling and was told to leave the meeting, which he did. Outside the building, he told the gathering that the rally was “the biggest political message that you are prepared to work to gain your goals.” Soon after, Mr Copeland appeared, thanked the protest group for attending, and said that the board had had “most meaningful discussions” with their delegates. “You can be proud of what they have said today and we hope that something worth while will come out of the discussions.” During the question-and-answer session there were indications of agreement on a further joint approach to the Govern-

ment by board and local body members for assistance with funding. Mr Copeland also said the West Coast Hospital Board wanted those involved in the “sit-in” protest at the Westland Hospital to show more responsibility towards the staff and the patients. He said that the board had had complaints about the actions of the protesters, who were inhibiting the staff’s work. "Why they have to occupy the patients’ sittingroom is beyond me,” he /Said. He had been told that the noise coming from the room at times was particularly upsetting for a seriously ill patient in a nearby room. A member of the protest, Mr Ross Overton, said that the protesters had the utmost regard for the staff in their work. Earlier, he had claimed that staff had not been allowed to join the “sit-in” during their off-duty hours.