NEW ARRIVALS & APPOINTMENTS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1183, 19 July 1911, Page 6

NEW ARRIVALS & APPOINTMENTS

QUESTION OF PREFERENCE.

At tho Hospital Board meeting yester. day, a discussion arose as to whether or not people who are newcomers to the country should be given appointments in preference to peoplo who havo resided hero some time. The Public Health Commilfeo reported to (lie hoard "That Messrs. B. fj, Reed and F. 0. York were appointed public health inspectors, out of 33 applicants, at a salary of .£lB5 per, annum', and 'actual travelling expenses." Jlr. (i. T. London said that there were thirty-three applicants, and a score of them were very suitable, and some of them were recommended by the 1 City Council, lie did not want to make invidious comparisons between new arrivals and men who_ have been some time in tho country, but it seemed to bo a deplorable thing that the commitce had found it necessary to give two appointments to recent arrivals. "It is not to our credit," he concluded, "that such duties as thesa cannot bo discharged by men who livo in our midst." Jlr. D. Robertson remarked that tho special qualifications needed were not made in New Zealand yet. Jlr. Godber: "I think it is a matter of great regret that wo havo to rely upon, recent arrivals for duties of this kind. I think it would explain matters if you (tho chairman) said what the qualifications of the newcomers were." He knew people in Wellington who would havo suited. Jlr. R. C. Kirk thought it was regrettable that members should get the committee to make the appointments and then criticise them. Members: "Why? why?" Mr. Thompson wanted to know wliattho duties of (he appointees were. The llcv. H. Van Staveren: "I regret (hat this mater should have been raised, especially by a member of the committeo because 110 could not get his candidate appointed." Cries in protest. The Rev. H. Van Staveren said that if these appointments should not l:o given to men recently arrived in New Zealand the board should advertise: "It is no use people who have only been a few months in tho country applying for these positions, because they have no right to got them." Tho men selected were the host qualified, and, therefore, tho committee had been justified.

Mr. D. M'Laron said that without imputinf! motives, lie thought that the beard should know the reasons of tho committee in making .tho appointments if they wished to. Otherwise tho procedure wns wrong. Mr. J. Trevor: "A successful candidate for a position in the board's employ offered himself for a week, and now ho has been put in against all applicants at .£1 lis. Gd." A member; "Well, he has been found worth it." Another member: "X 3 lis. Od." A question was. asked whether or not tho man had passed "the London Guild." Someone replied "Yes." Another member remarked that even so that was not all; there were practical men in Wellington with little theoi;v, " • The chairman (the Rev. W. A. J3vans\: "Tho matter wa,s referred to this committee at tho last meeting of the board. Tlva prc-cedurc was that usually adopted. Tho number of candidates was reduced to six: tho six were interviewed; and then that number lyas reduced bv voting till only the two appointed remained. In tlm future it may; be wise of the board to adviso the committee just to recommend."