CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15184, 23 December 1909, Page 3

CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS

BY-LAWS PROVOKE TROUBLE

The business of yesterday's meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board was conducted in a most placid manner until towards the close of the meeting, when some trouble occurred. The chairman (Mr J. Ingram) stated that the next matter for the consideration of members was a draft of the proposed' I now by-laws for the conduct ol the ! Board's institutions. Mr C. Allison suggested that it would be advisable to postpone consideration of the by-laws until it was seen what effect tho hew controlling Act would have upon them. • The chairman replied that it was necessary that the by-laws should bo considered and approved. As chairman of the Board ho could not continue under the- existing circumstances, and he would therefore resign. A member suggested that tho chairman was acting in this manner merely with a view to coercing the Board into falling in with Ids wisnes, but Mr Ingram replied that it was in order that members should not be coerced that he was resigning. He could not get on without by-laws. Mr C. D. Morris remarked that tho chairman Was acting in an undignified manner in leaving the chair because he was annoyed at not getting his own way. He hoped that the chairman would retain his position, and that tho Board would proceed to consider tho proposed by-laws. Mr F. Horrell expressed doubt as to whether the new by-laws would be of any use to the present Board, as by the time they came into operation the new arrangoment consequent upon the amalgamation of the Hospital Board and other bodies would have taken effect. Mr Ingram, who had not actually left the chair, said that tho_ by-laws laid before the Board were simply for the management of the Board's institutions, and they could not bo affected by the amalgamation referred to by Mr Horrell. By-laws of tho same form would then be required, and ho did not think any alteration would have to be made. The proposed rules for the conduct of the institution had been considered by mombers of the Board who had had a good many years' experience of the Board's affairs, and knew what was required, and it would be better that their proposals should be adopted now instead of leaving tho matter to tho new Board, which might be composed of men of less experience. Mr Morris suggested that a special meeting of tho Board should bo held to consider tho by-laws, and he moved that the Board should meet for this purpose on January 11, at 2.30 p.m. Mr Allison: For the reason that I have already given, it is only a waste Tho motion was seconded by Mr T. D. Bong and carried, Mi, Allison dissenting. •■ • it By this time the chairman had resumed his chair, and nothing further was said regarding tho threatened resignation. ,