AUCKLAND POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1937, Page 15

AUCKLAND POSITION

REJECTION OF ADVICE

A warning to Auckland people of the harmful consequences to the prestige and usefulness of their hospital that may possibly ensue from the action taken by the Auckland Hospital Board in the matter of the appointment oi surgeons to the honorary staff is contained in a letter to the editor of the "New Zealand Herald" from Sir Louis Barnett, emeritus professor of surgery, University of Otago, and president of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. In his letter Sir Louis states that he notes with regret that a majority oi members of-the board have refused to adopt the recommendations of their advisory committee,: twice urged, and later reinforced by an appeal from the head of the Department of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser. , The board, had acted unwisely in rejecting the advice of this committee. It had stultified itself. It had flouted its own specially-selected committee and the Minister of Health. It had aroused heartburning and discontent and distrust, in the minds of unselected and selected candidates. AUCKLAND'S STATUS IN JEOPARDY. . "Moreover," the letter continues, "the action of the board has caused the Medical Faculty of the University of Otago much concern, because the valuable co-operation of the Auckland Hospital in the training, of senior students is greatly appreciated, and the Medic. 1 School would much regret having to cut out the Auckland Hospital as an institution approved for that purpor-, unless and until the appointment and tenure of the visiting staff were put on c proper footing. "Similarly, the-Royal College of Surgeons of England and that of Australasia will also have to consider the withdrawal of the Auckland Hospital from the list of institutions approved for the purposes of surgical education, seeing that the mode of election of th? visiting staff is not in accord with their regulations. "I need hardly say that, if drastic action of this kind has to be taken by these two bodies, so deeply concerned in the surgical training of New Zealand students, it will mean a humiliation foi the citizens of Auckland, and a rebuff to their laudable ambition to take a prominent part in the work of a New Zealand medical school. . . ." E. Johnston and Co., auctioneers, will sell household furnishings at their mart, 8 Willeston Street, on Monday next at 1.30 p.m.