Doctor Given Seven Day's Notice

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 7

Doctor Given Seven Day's Notice

Board Chairman Refuses to be Drawu SEQUEL TO NAPIER INQUIRY. (Special to “Times.’’) NAPIER, Last Night. As a sequel to protracted investigations carried out by a committee of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, Dr. J. Allan Berry, one of tho Napier members of the Board, has been asked to tender his resignation as a member oi the honorary- medical staff of tho Napier Hospital. There was no definite indication of the reason given for this action when a full meeting of the board was held this afternoon, but Dr. Berry stated, in the course of a long discussion, that the action taken by the board was because he had refused to give evidence at an inquiry. Dr. Berry had been asked at a special meeting of the board on February 4 to tender his resignation within seven days, but in view of the fact that this meeting was not in order, the seven days’ notice is to date from to-day'» meeting. The chairman, Mr. C. Lassen, made reference to a letter written by lion. VV. E. Barnard, M.P., requesting that no publicity be indulged in regarding Napier Hospital matters, tho board then going into committee to consider the letter. On resuming discussion of the question of tho decision of tho mooting on February 4, Mr. Lassen stated tho board's solicitor had told him the meeting was not called legally. He thereupon moved that a special meeting of tho board bo held, at a time to be arranged, for the purpose of dispensing with tho services of Dr. Berry on tho honorary medical staff of tho board. A voice from the public gallery; A disgrace! A disgrace! “Tho committee meeting not being in order is only a technical point and 1 consider Dr. Berry knew full well the intont of tho board when asking him to hand in his resignation as a honorary surgeo within seven days,’’ said Mr. Lassen. “It has not como forward, although the other resignation asked for has been received.’’ In seconding Mr. Lassen’s motion, Mr. C. Duff said the meeting of the board on February 4 was held because the conduct of certain officers of the board had to be discussed. During a later stage in the meeting when the question of the adoption of the minutes of the meeting on February 4 was under consideration, Dr. Berry asked Mr. Lassen if he would give a reason for his dismissal. Mr. Lassen; I am not prepared at this juncture to go into the matter at all. Dr. Berry again asked tho chairman that tho reasons be stated publicly as to why he had been asked for his resignation. Mr. Lassen: I will not allow this matter to be discussed further at this juncture. Dr. Berry: The reason you expressed, whether it was correct or not, was that I had refused to give evidence at an inquiry. Further reference was made to tho matter later on when the chairman asked whether there was any goncral business for discussion. “Wo liavo had our inquiry in committee and certain questions have been put to us by parents of children,” said Mr. C. O. Morso. “Do you propose to answer those questions! VVe answered tho solicitor but not the parents. What I want to know is whether it is your intention to drop'the whole matter or answer those paronts. ” Mr. Lassen indicated that there were no questions in writing from the parents, only some from tho solicitors. These would be answered by the com mittee. Mr. Lassen’s original motion lapsed 1 and tho ultimate decision of tho board was that Dr. Berry be given seven days' notice to date from to-day.