COBDEN TOWN BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1925, Page 3

COBDEN TOWN BOARD

HOSPITAL BOARD VACANCY. A special meeting of the Cobden Town board was held last evening. Present: Crs A. G._ Gunn (chairman), J. Walker, D. T. Cochrane, H. It. Barrett.and W. F. G. Pullin. Tne Chairman stated the business of the special meeting was to rescind the resolution of the Board referring the filling of the vacancy on the Hospital Board to the electors; and at tnat meeting of the Board to fill the vacancy by appointment. The Chairman *then moved “that ths resolution moved by the Board on July 15, 1925, be now rescinded, viz., that the vacancy ell the Grey Hospital Board, consequent on the retirement of Mr 0. H. Brailsford as representative for the contributory district of Cobden be filled by election.” \ Cr Barrett seconded the resolution, which was carried. The Chairman further moved “That an appointment as Cobden Town Board representative on the Grey Hospital Board be now* made under section 21 of ‘The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909.’ By request the Clerk read the section of the Act as follows: —“If no such appointment is made within two months after the happening of the vacancy, the Governor may by warrant under his hand make the required appointment.” Ci- Walker moved an amendment: “That the appointment be deferred to a special meeting of the Board ten days hence.” It would (he said) makelittle difference, and they would then have the full Board.

Cr Cochrane seconded, as he thought it would allay any feeling in the matter. The Chairman agreed that there would be a full Board, but the full Board at the moment was present and properly constituted for the special business before them. (The same Board of. five members was present at the last meeting of the Town Board on July 15, when Cr Walker moved and Cr Cochraneseconded, “that the next on the list be appointed.”) The Chairman put the amendment, which was lost and the motion car-, ried. Cr Barrett gave as his reason for not supporting the next on the list (Mr Turley) the fact that figures showed that at three previous contests he did not have the confidence of the electors. Cr Pullin said he was of the impression there was something underlying this. When the matter camo up at the last meeting of the Town Board he did not know they were dealing with the Hospital Board vacancy; he was thinking of the Town Board vacancy. That was his reason for desiring an election by the ratepayers of a man whom they thought best to fill the position. When he saw the “Argus” next morning he realised the position, • and “instead of a doublebarrelled gun it was a single one.” Cr Pullin, continuing, said they had been slated very severely by the “Argus.” Some of Shat paper’s remarks were uncalled for. He and Cr Barrett had been treated to the first round, with the Chairman included in the second round. He had not troubled to reply because he thought discretion the better part of valour. It was very peculiar that on the last meeting night an “Argus” reportershould come across and the matter be sprung upon them. If this sort of thing was to continue the ratepayers would think they were a lot of schoolboys. They tried to do their best for the township and had no axe to grind. The Chairman supported his attitude by stating that the appointment sh ruld be made from the Board when a member was available. The Chairman moved that Cr Pullin be the Town Board's representative on the Hospital Board. Seconded by Cr Barrett and carried unanimously.

The Chairman congratulated Cr Pullin on his appointment. He was a man of mature judgment, fair vision, and would further the interests of the Hospital and its administration, and watch the interests of the Town Board as a contributory body. ,■ Cr Walker said he had nothing against Cr Pullin, and was sure he would prove a good representative. Cr Barrett encouraged Cr Pullin by saying that previous members of the Board, Messrs Grams and Brailsford, would be able to tell him something about the position. Cr Pullin returned thanks.