EMPHATICALLY REPUDIATED BY MEDICAL STAFF

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6617, 23 May 1928, Page 6

EMPHATICALLY REPUDIATED BY MEDICAL STAFF

Cr. Eliott and Hospital Building Programme 'UNJUSTIFIED AND UNCALLED’ Arising out of comments by Councillor M. A. Eliott at a meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening at its meeting yesterday the executive committee of the Hospital Board, interviewed those members of the honorary staff who were available—viz. Doctors Putnam, Porrcst, Durward and Miller. All present emphatically denied the statements which Councillor Eliott alleged had been made by the honorary staff regarding the new buidings. It was stated that . Councillor Eliott had no authorityfrom any member of the honorary staff to make any statement whatever concerning the Board’s building policy. Of those members unable to be present, Dr. Bott gave an emphatic denial of Councillor Eliott’s statements stating that tho honorary staff as a whole had not considered this matter. Mr. Wylie, who was unable to be present at the meeting, stated to the chairman that he considered Or. Eliott’s remarks were quite unjustified and uncalled for and that the honorary staff had not as a body had any communication with Mr. Eliott. Mr. Eliott ought to be prepared to give the names of the four of five members of the staff he refers to. Personally Mr. Wylie had not had any communication with Cr. Eliott, did not agree with Cr. Eliott’s opinion, and was of the opinion that the proposed expenditure was necessary. “in view of the foregoing,” says Sir James Wilson, “Councillor Eliott’s assurance given to Councillor Pitzherbert that the honorary staff were prepared to back up his statements can bo left to the public to judge on its merits, and as the Borough Council apparently adopted Councillor Eliott’s resolution on his assurance in this matter, it would seem that the Council has been grossly misled. ’ ’ WHICH? (To the Editor.) Sir, —I notice in your issue of this morning that Councillor Eliott is reported to have said at last night’s Borough Council that the Hospital Board’s honorary medical staff had held a meeting and that they considered the expenditure at the hospital in connection with providing increased accommodation unnecessary and wasteful. If this is correct, 'sir, then either one of two things has happened: (1) That the honorary medical staff have committed a serious breach of tho by-laws by divulging information which should first ho submitted to tho Board; or (2) the Board has deliberately withhold important evidence from the honorary staff of Interest to contributing bodies. Which is correct? —I am. etc.. INTERESTED.