“PIERROTS”

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6143, 29 July 1921, Page 6

“PIERROTS”

HOSPITAL BOARD AS ENTERTAINERS.

CHAIRMAN AND PRESS AGAIN.

MR DeCOSTA ,MADE TO SIT DOWN. The special meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday provided another amusing interlude, the bone of contention being the often debated question as to whether or not the public—per medium of the Press —was entitled to be acquainted with the deliberations of its representatives on this public body. The meeting was called for the purpose of considering the resignation of the matron. It will be remembered that, at the last ordinary meeting of the Board, Miss Mason, who was then acting-matron, was appointed matron. The- appointment, however, was not made without considerable discussion and strong opposition from some members of the Board on the ground that the position should be advertised. The proceedings on that occasion, weie taken in open Board, and a full re2>ort was published in the uress. The chairman, Mr Kenway, explained the object of the meeting, proceeding to relate the circumstances., of the matron’s resignation, at the same time requesting that his remarks should not be reported in the press. After speaking for a few minutes on the matter, he° suggested that the Board should go into committee. ,f As a matter of fact, he stated, “I was very much surprised when I came into the room and saw the press representatives sitting at the tables. I informed one of the papers yesterday that the meeting would be in committee and that there would be nothing to report. I think that the best course, for the Board to adop would be for the discussion to be taken in committee and the decisions announced subsequently.” Mr DeCosta: I am responsible for the press being present at the meeting. The notice which was sent. to members said that a special meeting of the Board would be held and said nothing about a committee meeting. Under those circumstances, the press were, I understand, entitled to be piesent,’ until the Board, by a majority of its members, decided that the proceedings should be taken in comnutMr Gibson: This matter wants all publicity. , .. Mr DeCosta: The public wants it anyhow. Mr Gibson: We have been going on in committee for a long time, and, a times, I have sat here biting my bottom lip over it. It is tune we did ail our business in open Board and I will move in that direction, The press should be allowed to take a full report of this matter. • The chairman: The papers rang me up, and I told them then it would be taken in committee. I will accept a ruling of the Board on the matter. Mr Bridge: I favour the chairmans attitude. The members want to speak as freely as possible. They are bridled to a certain extent if every remark is to go into the press. I do not want to bridle the public or the press, but it is not desirable -that the public should know every remark that is made. . . „ The chairman: It is a good thm 0 they don’t. Mr Coleman: I agree with Mr Gibson. There are cases —charitable aid business, for instance —which should be taken .in committee, but this matter should be discussed openly. Mr Gibson: The press has never abused its privilege yet. Mr Coleman: I know they haven t, hut, at times, we must go into committee, Othenvise, the public should know everything which its representatives The chairman: It’s a good thing they don’t. I think if they get the results that is enough. Mr Coleman: Results are not enough, because they cannot tell the attitude of the members from them. Mr DeCosta: -Everything should be done in open Board, and I lmve always been in favor of it. The public look for, and, are entitled to. anything ot interest, and they want ' everything, done openly. Mr Gibson then moved and Mr .DeCosta seconded: — “That the matter now under discussion be taken in open Board. Mr Barns-Graham: Mr DeCosta has said that the public should know eveverything of interest. W e are not here as Mr DeCosta: Pierrots. Mr Barns-Graham: Yes. Pierrots. We are here to do our best in the interests of the Hospital and not to interest the public. Mr DeCosta: We do interest them anyhow. Mr Coleman: We are only representatives of the public. Mr De Costa: But Mr Barns-Grah-am does not come up for election. He is put on the Board. Mr Barns-Graham: In some cases the matter could be taken in open Board, but, in others, we should go into committed. The public, no doubt, would be glad to bear all we have to say. At times it makes a nice story and is very interesting, but, in the interest of the Hospital and for their own protection, the Board should go into committee. There are features connected with the matron’s resignation which we could talk about in committee, but not in open Board. Why should we be more or less muzzled just to make reading for the public? The chairman: I am going to refer to something that Air DeCosta said just now. (To the press representatives) Gentlemen, I shall ask that you do not publish any remarks. Air DeCosta: (Also to the press representatives). You take it all down and report it. The chairman: I would rather they did not do so. Air DeCosta: I would rather they did. The chairman : I want to refer to Mr DeCosta’s reference to the elections. Any man who keeps an eye on the elections and considers the result of the next poll as a more important matter than the business of the Board, is not a fit person to he on the Board. The only thing we have to consider is the welfare and the administration of the Hospital. The press, I say, should only be given results. The Hon. G. W. Russell once advised the Board to take contentious matters in committee, and this was one reason why I always favored committee work. Air DeCosta rose to sj3 ca k. The chairman: Ybu cannot speak. Air DeCosta : But The chairman: Yon have not a motion’ before the meeting. Mr DeCosta-. I seconded it. The chairman: I say you cannot speak again. Air DeCosta: I want The chairman: I don’t. Sit down! Air DeCosta: I want to reply. I am not going to be sat upon. The chairman (heatedly): Will you sit down, Mr DeCosta? Air DeCosta resumed his seat. Mr Gibson: Air Chairman, unless it is necessary to protect someone, this Board should do everything openly. No one is to be protected in this case and we have, nothing to hide.. If you take this in committee, you are as near to. a troupe of “Pierrots” as it is jiossible to get. It is time we cut out a great deal of this committee work, which is not consistent with the best interests of the Hospital. If we proceed in open. Board there will he less talk and more work. Air DeCosta: Hear, Hear. ■ The public thinks we are a troupe of entertainers now. The motion was then pul to the meeting and lost, members DeCosta, Coleman and Gibson, being the only ones in favor of the matter being discussed openly, and the chairman, and members Barns-Graham, Johnston, Shanks, and Bridge preferring to proceed with the discussion in committee.