DOCTORS AND MATRON

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 11

DOCTORS A ND MATRON

TAIHAPE HOSPITAL DISPUTE

The trouble between the Wanganui Hospital Board and three Taihape doctors who r cenfcly tendered their'■resignations following a dispute with the [matron of the Taihape Public Hospital reached a further stage when the board received a letter from the' doe(tora concerned withdrawing their resign nations on certain conditions which were unacceptable to the board, which decided to adhere to its original decision (states a Wanganur correspondent).-,..,/ .'■::■" , -, ■■...':■ * At a meeting of the-board last month the resignations of Drs. Sinclair, M'Diarinid, -and Hay were received. They stated that they would resign if the present matron at the hospital did not resign. The doctors wore asked to reconsider their decision, and were told that the board could find no fault with the matron; ■ . ■ '

A letter was received by tho board from the three doctors, stating that as they recognised the difficult position in which the board would find itself at Taihapo they would %vithdraw their resignations if certain irrelevant and scurrilous expressions made by two me'mbcrs of the board, Messrs. Aldridge and Battle, were withdrawn in open board.

"I maintain, that the action of two of these doctors in saying they would resign if the matron did not was un-Brit-isli and unmanly. Dr, M'Diarniid did not send Ms resignation under that condition, " said Mr. 'Battle. , • • ■

"Let us stick to our point," said Mr, Broderick. ' '

Mr. Aldridge paid a tribute to the matron's efficiency, and aaicU- he had nothing to apologise for.

Mr. Rogers moved that the letter be received, but that tho board could not see its way clear to agree to the terms laid down by tho doctors in connection with their proposed resignations, in that Messrs. Battle and AJdridge should not be asked to apologise.

The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Rogers: "Can we permit this intolerable position to continue? Surely we can insist that the doctors accord the matron that courtesy which befits tho dignity of her position."

The chairman: "The doctors will be informed of the board's desires in the matter. Presumably the nest move will be the resignation of the doctors. In that event a. special meeting of the board can be held to consider the matter."