GREY HOSPITAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 October 1926, Page 2

GREY HOSPITAL

BOOKS IN MUDDLED STATE

Before the Board got doiWl to business, a disCuSsfOit feUfeuOd ds to Whether the I’fepresOiVtativOs of the PrfesS should be tldniittOd, aiid the “ayes’* finally 'prevailed, by threb to tW'o. In the absence of thfe. Chairman (Air J. W. Haiinaii), who is visiting Australia, the chair was occupied by Mr Brislane, and the following members were also present: Messrs F. Williams, F. L. Turley, J. Greaney, and E. Ashton. Air Brislane stated that the meeting had been called to hdal‘ the report of Mr Beggs, and to enquire iiito thb affairs coiliiectOd with it. Pcl-sbiially, said Mr Brislane, he would prefer to have a private enquiry, to get to the bottom of the matter. It was not good business to broadcast the Board’s troubles outside. He moved that the Press be excluded. In seconding the resolution, Mr Ashton thought that, before they allowed the Press to publish anything, they should know the nature and cause of the trouble, Mr Turley said that he would move, as an amendment, that the Press be admitted. If Air Beggs wished to withhold his statement from publication, he had a right to do so, “As a representative of the public on this body,” added Air Turley, “I am going to take strong exception to too much committee work. Possibly there ar e a lot of people to blame*—members of the Board—for the way the Board is to-day. I think that the public should know who is to blame, and I strongly oppose a committee meeting, unless Air Beggs wishes to maxe any statement in committee.” Regret that all the members of the Board were not present, was expressed by Air Williams. It was to be regretted, he said, that some of the members perhaps found it convenient tc be away. Personally, he had always been in favour of admitting the Press, and to be consistent he must support their admission now. To that end he had always voted, hut

often had been defeated. However, he did not know really what the present business was ; it was all new to him, and he knew nothing beyond what Mr Brislane’s remarks had indicated. If things were wrong, it was certainly to be regretted, and it was a pity, perhaps, that members were not more conversant with what had taken place, if things were really serious. If not, it did not matter much. He would like to hear what Mr Beggs had to say, and the Board would then be in a better position to judge whether the Press should be present. TOO MUCH EXCLUSION? Mr Greaney stated that lie had also always been in favour of the Press being Admitted to meetings. Very often, in the past, the Press representatives had been excluded when they should have been admitted. On this particular occasion, the business was new to most members of the Board, and- he would not like to see any private personalities brought into the business, as members knew nothing about it so far. He would support the Press being admitted, after the opinion of Mr Beggs had been given. Mr Turley : I don’t think it is a fair thing to place the decision upon Mr Beggs. Not knowing his opinions, it is a rather dangerous procedure to allow him to suggest whether the meeting should be open to the Press. His statement could be taken by the Board, but outside that 1 oppose camera proceedings. Mr Williams explained that, when he suggested that Mr Beggs should make a statement, he thought that after it they could have the Press present. He took it that the matter should rest with Mr Beggs whether he wanted to speak to the Press or not. As a member of the Board and a representative of the people, he hoped that nothing was wrong. However, this was not the first or the second occasion something of the kind

BOARD SUSPENDS SECRETARY Some Vfery plain 1 Speaking was hieard regafflitig this state of affairs at the Greymouth .Hospital at a special meeting of the Board held last evening, and it was revealed 'that a condition of absolute chaos exists in connection with the duties entrusted to the secretary, Mr. M. J. Thompson. As a result, it was decided to suspend that gentleman forthwith, and request him to refund salary which he had paid himself in advance. The role of candid friend to the Board was filled by Mr. C. H. Beggs, inspecting accountant, of the Health Department, whose investigations had revealed the lamentable conditions. the Finance GoniniittGG of the Board came in for severe criticism from one member, ' while the absence of another from the meeting was also adversely commented upon. Finally, the Board decided to secure the services of Mr. W. Keeble, of the accountancy branch, Health Department, Wellington, with the object of having the tangled books straightened out. The matter of appointing a permanent secretary will be dealt with later.

r had happened. He took it they were j. dealing with public business, and therefore he must support the Press being admitted. He did not want it to be thought for a moment that he was trying to use Mr Beggs and goi> ■ behind the business. The resolution p was lost, Messrs ! Brislane and Ashton voting for it, and Messrs Turley, Williams aim ’ Greaney against it, and the Pressmen carried on. Mr Greaney : I think that, on a special occasion like this, the Mayor of the town, Mr Parfitt, should have been present. Mr Turley : I think this Board should move a motion of censure on the Mayor for not being here. He is a responsible member of the Board, and a member of the Finance Committee, who may be the people to blame. Mr Ashton remarked that Mr Parfitt was attending the School Jubilee. Mr Turlev • This meetin <r Ik Tar

ivxr luiwy : mis iiietwuig is iai ‘ more important than a school function ! • ’ . ' . Mr Brislane: We have nothing io do with Mr Parfitt’s private dealings. H e went on to explain that the Board’s secretary, first went off duty with influenza. - He resumed duty, and about two days later received a telegram, asking- him to meet Mr Beggs at the-.railway station. “The poor fellow todk bad again,” said Air Brislane, “and t he-ip still confined to his home.” Mr Beggs had inspected the books meanwhile, and found them in a very muddled state. , Air. Beggs : I say anything as to the position, I; would like to make it clear'that I am speaking to the BoarcJ; ~,-and not to the public. I am here as th l © representative of the Health Deparfjnent. Mr Brislane: Do You wish your remarks to go into the Press? v Air BeggstjNq., I wish to speak to ■' e Board privately. ;

Mis stdiement was ■accordingly heili’d in cohiinittee. . DIBLUAIA-TIC DEIUT.F, After Air Beggs had concluded Ills comprehensive report, couched in terms of great candour, Air Williams put the following query : Are you aware that the Board really secured Al r Thompson as secretary at the instigation of the Health Department ? Air Beggs replied that when the Board invited applications for the position, it gbt quite il iltirribcti btit none of the applicants had inul’il Experience in accountancy. The Department’s experience had been that the main thing lacking with regard to Hospital Board secretaries was a knowledge of accountancy. The Department could not recommend any of the applicants. Air Thompson was at that time on the Departmental staff, and he held the diploma of the Institute of Accountants. When asked by some of the “heads” of the Department whether lie would consider accepting the Greyiiiouth position, he agreed. They recommended him to the Board because he had the diploma, and the Department felt the present position keenly. Air Beggs added that he was there as the Department’s representative, to help the Board. Air Greaney : He was recommended just because he held an accountant’s certificate ?. Air Beggs : I- can assure you that the examination of the New Zealand Society of Accountants is as high as any in the world. I hold an Englisn as well as a New Zealand certificate, and I know wliich examination is the hardest. •Air Ashton: The Department also sent Thompson to Rotorua for four months. Air Begg; We sent him there ro break him in and give him experience, so that we would not be sending you a green hand. Air Greaney: Y'ou broke him down! These things will happen' replied

Mr Beggs. Referring to a recommendation made by Mr Beggs, that a qualified man should be secured from the Department at Wellington to straighten up the Board’s books, Mr Ashton said that the Board should decide whether that should be -done. Mr Brislane : It is for you to deal with the matter. You have the remedy in your own hands, and it is up to you to say what you are going to do. There is no question in my mind that the secretary will have to be relieved. The sooner we face the position, the better for the Board and everyone else. I think there is no better solution than to get this man from Wellington, on trial. If he is suitable, we can make a permanent appointment. Mr Turley: I might say that I appreciate the report given by Mr Beggs. It is certainly clear, and to my mind clearly shows that things have been allowed to drift into a PRETTY SORRY MESS in the Greymouth Hospital. There is only one thing I disagree with in the report. lam going to disagree to the appointment of someone from Wellington. I appreciate Mr Beggs’ efforts, but I think there are people in this town capable of doing this job just as well as any other man in New Zealand. ’They may not hold qualifications as accountants, out you have had an example of what such qualifications stand for. I hold the opinion that the Board should get someone in this town. We could possibly select from the previous applicants someone who could put things on a decent footing. I don’t think that the job is such a strenuous one as Air Beggs has made out. The Department's methods are those laid down by the Board now, and the bookkeeping could be brought up-to-date. We should, if possible, give somebody in town a chance to come in temporarily, and then call for applications for the position of secretary. Mr Tirisljino sf.nf.pd t,hn± i.lin nrft-

iur ijiisiciiic sidiea Liiciu Liit' piesent secretary would have to be dealt with first. Mr Turley: I move that he Im? suspended forthwith ! Air Brislane thought a better way would be to request Air Thompson to i esign. Air Turley; Why resign? He cannot do the job! Air Turley again moved that the secretary be suspended forthwith, and that he be asked to refund a month’s salary to the Board. Air Williams asked Air Brislane whether he gave the secretary his salary in advance, and was answered in the -negative. Air Williams: Then is that not misappropriation ? Mr Brislane : No. He simply took it in advance! Asked by Mr Williams for- his opinion on the point, Air Beggs said he would not like to commit himsert to an expression of opinion. He could

not find a receipt for the payment. The secretary was apparently in a peculiar state of health. ' Air Turley :He is not likely to ask anv questions as to why he lost his job! Air Ashton: I have grave doubts whether the man’s memory has been any good for the past three months. Hi's nerves have completely gone. Air- Turley: Whose nerves would not go, with the state of the books like this Aline would! The man should have been a patient in the hospital, instead of secretary! The Board was called to order by Air Brislane, who stated that they were only using hot air! In seconding Air Turley’s resolution, providing for immediate suspension, Air Williams said that the secretary sgeined to be ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS. Even if h e was sick to-day, he was not sick yesterday or six months ago.

Hg Wae hardly worth more copsidera.-. tipn than another , secretary to whom the Board gave short Shrift a , .short time previously.-, The Board would do tile secretary; andj , a good turn by .getting rid of hini< ■. v Air Greaney also •;Supported the resolution. After hearing the ,r<?majks> of Air Beggs, he said, lie was finite satisfied that the secretary ..should have been suspended six months ago. He had “played it low down’** on the Board for six months. . Thet Board had been ignorant of the fact that gOi’iSspolidOnee had been received, and, added Alt Greality, he thought that the Ghairmdri (Air Hannan) was td blaffig for much of it not being presented to th# Board. Air Turley : I want to say this, and I want the Press, to have it —— Air /Brislane (loudly) : You like to see your name shining in the Press ’ 1 am not going to wait here for you to talk to the gallery! I will leave the chair if you are too long! After .« lively few moments, Air Tiitlby said he regretted very much tliai tliE Ifedtd had cause to suspend the secretary ill that manner.- He did not altogether blame Mid Secretary. The man was in bad health, arid Apparently had received no assistance or guidance from the Board members, particularly the Finance Committee. They had accepted reports from the secretary that Were really not reports’ lit all. There was not a member of tiiy Board who had been eonversa-nt with the fact that the local bodies had hoi bOeff requested to pay their levies; “To iiiy inbid,” said Air Tui-lEy, “the Finance Committee mainly is responsible' fbr the position we find ourselves in’.” The secretary appeared to be honest. Had been his intention to rob the, Board, all he had to dp was to fill in the signed cheques and hop away with £lO,OOO or £12,000. Alt Brislane : You have had your blow out! I will put the motion. He did SO, and it was carried.

QUESTION OF EXPENDITURE. A lengthy discussion ensued as to whether the recommendation ,of Air Beggs should be adopted, and a relieving accountant, secured from. AVellington; or whether a Grey mouth man should be asked to straighten up the books,, pending the appointment of a permanent secretary. Air Brislane remarked that three members of tile Board were running things that night, and it was not fair to' absent members to make an appointment at that meeting. He moved that Alt Beggs’ recommendatifon be adopted. f Air Ashton seconded the resolution. Air Williams stated that when the Board appointed ’.. Thompson they raised the salary from £3OO to £350 per annum, and the assistant secre T tary also had to be paid. If uie Wellington man were permanently appointed, he would not take the position under £4OO, and that would bring the expenditure on that * department to over £5OO. Air Williams said he was beginning to think that the amount of work to be done would not justify such an expense. Air Turley moved, as an amendment, that a Greymouth accountant, one of the previous applicants for the position, should be asked to act temporarily, for one month, at £7 10s per week. The resolution was carried. Air

.1 lie lesoiuiion vvcis Ctiiriieci? Turley dissenting, and stating that he was not in favour of importing people from Wellington. . ( A suggestion that every person owing money to the Board should be sent an account, and asked whether it were correct, was made by Mr Turley, but Mr Beggs stated that a great deal of work would have to be carried out before that would be possible. If the Board wished ‘it, he could probably revisit Greymouth and submit a later report. A vote of appreciation to Air Beggs was moved by Air Ashton, who saui that Air Beggs deserved the thanks of the Board for the way in which he had given them an insight into their affairs. Although the Board was perhaps a little to blame, they had relied upon a man whom they thought was very efficient. Air Brislane, in seconding the resolution, said that Air Ashton had just got in before him. Air Beggs had tried to help the Board in every possible way. Returning thanks, Air Beggs stated that the Department felt it ha-d a certain responsibility for the state of affairs that existed. Feeling that, he had more than usually exerted himself to help in straightening the matter out. He hoped that, on his next visit to Greymouth, he would have quite a different stoiy to tell the Board. ’ i •