A HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1172, 6 July 1911, Page 6

A HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT.

VETOED BY TnE MINISTER. IBi Taleeribh.—Special Correspondent.* Auckland, July 5. At a. meeting of the Hospital Board last evening, a letter was read from the Inspector-General of Hospitals (Dr. Valintine), acknowledging the receipt of the board's letter notifying tho selection of Miss M. H. Griffiths, of Dunedin, as ladv superintendent of live nursing staff of tho Auckland Hospital. Ho stated:— "I regret that owing to the fact that it is not considered by tho Department that the best selection has been mado' among tho candidatej for this appointment the Minister cannot signify his approval thereof." Mr. Nerheny, who spoke with considerable warmth, said ho regretted that the Department should have seen fit to insult the board in this matter. Tho selection of Miss Griffiths had been mado by the board by. a majority of 8 to 2, niter carefully considering the testimonials of tho six candidates whoso names were submitted, and yet immediately after tho selection was announced Miss M'Lean (Assistant Inspector of Hospitais) came to Auckland and interviewed members of the board with the object of inducing them, if possible, to chango t.hcir minds. The only reason, however, thai Miss M'Lean could give for asking t'no board to mako another selection was that ono of the other candidates had had longer experience as charge nurse. The Department, she stated, had no fault to find with Miss Griffiths (who has not been in New Zealand very long) . beyond that it did not know very much about her.

Mr. Dickson, who endorsed Mr. Nerheny's statements, said he. had also been interviewed by Miss M'Lean, who informed him that she was acting under tha instructions of the Inspector-General (Dr. Valintine).

The chairman, who deprecated the tone of the discussion, said that Miss M'Lean had been simply acting as tho representative of the Department. He pointed out that the Minister had tho power of veto over the appointment for 21 days, but no longer. It was resolved that Hiss Griffiths bo appointed to tho position at tho expiration of 21 days (Friday next) from the date of her'nomination by the board.