AN ECONOMY PROPOSAL

Evening Star, Issue 20979, 18 December 1931, Page 13

AN ECONOMY PROPOSAL

OPPOSITION TO CONFERENCE (Per, United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 17. Strong disapproval of the proposal of the Hospital Boards’ Association to hold a conference early next year ( on the ground that it would involve drawing on the public funds without the prospect of a commensurate advantage was expressed by Dr R. Campbell Begg at a meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board to-day. Dr Begg said he had no objection to the association “ holding as many conferences as it liked,” provided the delegates paid their own expenses. Correspondence laid on the table showed that recently the board had asked the association to waive its annual subscription. The association replied declining the request arid pointing out that this year the subscription had been reduced by 50 per cent. Wellington’s share was shown to be £SO. . ' • , Dr Begg said that, in view of the board’s finances, he thought the question of a subscription should be given a good deal of thought. He might be wrong, he said, but he was under the impression that a gobd deal of the association’s money went towards the payment of the delegates’ expenses. Mr F. Castle (the chairman): A bal-ance-sheet is issued and is available to all members. Dr Begg moved that the question of the payment of the subscription be deferred until the. board had had an opportunity of making a recommendation to the association in regard to the holding of the next conference. The motion was seconded by Mr A. T. Markmam. After a sharp discussion the Chairman said that most of the boards had already paid. He was sure that Wellington did not wish to be placed in the position of a defaulter. He suggested that the board agree to the payment of the subscription. The question of whether delegates should be sent could then be discussed. Dr Begg; T wish to enter an emphatic protest against a conference neing held at the expense of the public. Having made my protest, I am quite willing to withdraw my motion with the consent of my seconder. Th© motion was withdrawn accordingly. The question of appointing delegates was deferred until the January meeting of the hoard. The conference is to be held at Timnru on February 3.