CONTROL OF HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 29, 28 October 1932, Page 12

CONTROL OF HOSPITAL

House Committee to Stay CASTING VOTE DECIDES On the casting vote of the chairman. Mr. F. Castle, the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday rejected a motion that the house committee, which directs the internal management of the hospital, should be abolished and the business dealt with by the general purposes committee. In continuing the debate on the motion, which had been adjourned from the last meeting, Dr. R, Campbell Begg, chairman of the committee, said it was more in sorrow than in anger that he rose to participate tn the discussion. He recalled the circumstances under which the committee had been set up twelve months ago and maintained that the organisation had justified its existence. He looked upon the motion as a challenge to the committee and a vote of no-confidence in its chairman and members. He pointed out that the committee had held fifty meetings, involving more than a 100 hours’ deliberation. Mrs. J. K. Preston said that since the committee had been appointed there had never in her knowledge been a greater lack of discipline and a lack of subordination in the hospital. Mrs. A. McVicar, who moved the motion, contended, that the abolition of the committee would result in a better working and a greater understanding. The division resulted in equality of voting, eight casting their votes, for the motion and eight against. The chairman decided the issue by. voting against the motion. The division list is as follows: — For the motion: Messrs. F. Castle, J. Glover. J. H, Helliwell, C. M. Luke, G. Petherick, E. N. Campbell, and Mesdames A. McVicar and K. Preston. Against the motion: Dr. R. Campbell Begg, Dr. D. M. Wilson, Messrs. A. J. McCurdy, E. Windley, J. C. Riddell, W. Cole, and Mesdames E. M. Chapman and J. Fraser.