ELECTRICITY v. GAS. HOSPITAL REQUIREMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 20, 25 January 1911, Page 3

ELECTRICITY v. GAS. HOSPITAL REQUIREMENTS.

AN ACRIMONIOUS DISCUSSION. SOME PERSONALITIES. An interesting discussion on the hospital lighting problem took place at the meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday afternoon. The following clause appeared in the report of the Hospital Committee :—: — "That the Lighting Committee is investigating the question of using gas or electricity for lighting and heating, and is having further information procured." Mr. D. Eobertson : I want to be added to that committee. Mr. B. E. Gardener : I would like to know whether the time is opportune to make further additions to that committee. Three members were added to it at last meeting. Voices : Hear, hear. Mr. Robertson : It is composed of City Councillors. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald : Nothing of the kind. Mr. Eobertson is always misrepresenting things. The chairman (Mr. J. G. W. Aitken) : It is quite competent for anyone to move in that direction. Mr. Gardener moved, as an amendment, that Mi-. J. W. M'Ewan and the mover be added to the committee. "In doing that," he said, "I think it is about time that the constitution of that committee was altered. At the present time it has six members, and four of these are City Councillors. I don't mean to say that they are biased so far as their opinions go." The speaker objected to members of the committee writing letters to the press and instructing corporation officials to answer letters in the papers. It was, he added, very. bad taste for any member of the committee, while investigating a matter of this description, to do so. How, he added, could any competitors expect justice from those gentlemen when they freely expressed their opinions before the committee had finished its investigations '! The committee would be strengthened by the addition of the names he proposed. Mr. Eobertson : Add me on as well. I have good reason to go on. The TR-ev. H. Van Staveren : Why nofc the whole board 1 Mr. Gardener then amended his list of names by adding those of Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan, D. Eobertson, and J. Godber. A PEESONAL CRITICISM. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh : Perhaps it is a pity that Mr. "Fitzgerald committed himself. So far as the other members of the council on the committee are concerned, I can say here that they have not expressed any opinions one way or the other. I should ask some members of the committee to vouch for Mr. J. Smith and myself. Mr. Trevor has expressed his opinion — on the side of gas rather. The statement that we did not conduct ourselves fairly, and do what we could to get information, I take as somewhat of a slur upon us. Mr. Robertson has so low an opinion of mankind, apparently, that he can't give us credit for being honest and trying to get to the bottom of this question honestly and fairly for the public of Wellington. Perhaps he judges other people by himself. I hope he won't be made a member of this committee. He doesn't contribute to the debates anything of a solid nature, but merely makes querulous remarks. There is too much follow-the-leader in this business. Mr. J. Godber : We are not here to discuss the opinions of Mr. Eobertson. Mr. Hindmarsh : A committee has been proposed, and I am giving reasons why he should not be on it. WANTED : A CONVERT. Mr. Fitzgerald : Unlike Mr. Hindmarsh, I don't attach any great importance to Mr. Gardener's remarks. Ho has inferred that the councillors who are here — in the 'interests of tne public, I might say — are biased., but they are fair men and men who have th& conlidence of the public of Wellington. Mr. Gardener says I have no right to instruct an officer 'to refute arguments in the press, but the Lighting 'Committee of the City Council asked Councillor Smith and myself to make certain representations to this committee, and the fact of our being councillors as well as members will, 2 our suggestions are carried out, enable us to be instrumental in saving this board a large sum of money annually. lam going to support the amendment, as I want to get Mr. Robertson on the committee to convince him, if hs is open to conviction, which, judging by his remarks, I very much doubt. Ho is one of those persons who endeavour- to interject with the word "scrapping." He can scarcely make a sentence without including it. If h« is a fair-minded man, if he is a member of the committee for a few days, and if lie is as interested as the others have been, he will be converted to the view that electricity is superior to gas. I have nothing to gain, one way or the other. I know that electricity is cheaper than gas. The Chairman : That is not under debate just now. "I don't regret contributing anything to the papers on the controversy," added Mr. Fitzgerald. "UNCONSCIOUS BIAS." ! Mr. Godber : I think there is such a thing as unconscious bias and I think Mr. Fitzgerald has shown a little of it. The speaker doubted the advisableness of adding names to the committee and starting de novo, as it would cause delay. He wanted the matter settled and the best thing carried out. I A personal explanation brought Mr. Fitzgerald to hu ieei again. "I want, to ask Mr. Godber," he said, "if he | calls knowledge unconscious bi^s?" Mr. Godber : I will debate the point, but not here. Mr. Fitzgerald : I am prepared to debate it. Mr. J. Smith said he had been unconsciously put upon this committee and ke had not wanted it. He deprecated allusions being made to men who had enjoyed the confidence of the city for thirty-five years. He had no doubt that every member of the committee who was a councillor would exercise his judgment. He did not think it was fair to Mr. Gardener or Mr. Eobertson to throw cold water on the actions; of mcii who had served so long in pjibjic capacities. If gas were superior, he would vote for it. Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., declared that the amendment was nothing but a ' - eflection on a committee the boaid had set up. Bias had nothing to do with it. It was a most unbusinesslike procedure, as the committee was half-way through its work. A member : It was added to before. Mr. M'Laren : It had not started then. Several voices were heard in disagreement to the latter statement. MR. ROBERTSON IN REPLY. Sir. Robertson : I rise to make an explanation as to why I want to be on this committee. Mr. Hindmarsh gave you his reasons against me. Since tha committee was set up, I have had a good walk through the hospital and looked into the lighting and heating re-

quirements. That is what every member should go and do. A technical question was thereupon put to the speaker by Mr. Fitzgerald. "I am not going into that," replied Mr. Robertson. "I am going to use my practical knowledge and get the* best appliances. We must try and have fair play for the hospital." The Rev. H. Van Staveren reminded the members that they wero spending the money of the citizens. If the councillors desired to guard the public purse, why should they be prevented? Why should the board reflect upon them ? Mr. R. C. Kirk, chairman of the committee, stated that those members of the committee who had recently been added, had had to be made, acquainted with what the other members had learned and this process would have to be repeated if the amendment were carried- All were actuated by a desire that the facts should triumph. (Hear, hear.) There was no chance of the committee's being dominated by the councillors; if he thought so, he would ask for its membership to be strengthened. The amendment was lost by seven, votes to six, and the clause was adopted as it stood.