APPEAL DISMISSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1943, Page 3

APPEAL DISMISSED

THE CASE OF DR. MACKY

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 25. The adjourned appeal by Dr, Joseph Cecil Douglas Macky against the decision of the man-power officer in refusing him permission to terminate his employment at the Sunnyside Mental Hospital came before the Industrial 'Man-power Committee this morning. Dr. T. G. Gray, Director-General of Mental Hospitals, said that the Department regarded the appeal as extremely important, not only because of the shortage of rrifedical officers, but also' because c_ the effect of the decision on the working of mental hospitals as an%ssential undertaking. The-Mew of the Department was that Dr. Macky had committed an offence and, if he were allowed to do go without penalty, then other officers were entitled to take the same action. The disffict man-power officer, Mr. H. -j|i. js. Read, explained that when Dr "Macky put in his application for release in March, he was on sick leave, and it was. not till April 24 that he •was able to trace Dr. Macky, who by then had gone to Helensville. The head offlce then took the view that an appeal could not be allowed because of, the lapse of time. j/'We are satisfied that Dr. Macky intended to* appeal against the direction of the man-power officer and took all reasonable steps to bring it before the board," said the chairman. "It is unfortunate that, in the normal course, the case^was hpt before us in May or June. There was reason for Dr. Madky to think that the question of his job would be settled during his month's lea^. ~ ,iS "We aye satisfied that the Mental Hospitals' Department is doing urgent work and is seriously understaffed. We aire satisfied that had the appeal come Up in May, we would have taken the same view as the man-power officer. We must uphold the view of the mandbwer officer, and therefore the appeal Wf dismissed. We express the opinion that Dr. Macky was not to blame for the delay in'bringing the appeal, and pass no adverse comments against his motive in wishing to work at Helensville." The chairman said that it was not proper for the committee to comment on the question of a prosecution.