THE HOSPITAL BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 17 June 1926, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL BOARD

(To the Editor) Sir, —There appears to be a general discontent and dissaproval of the manner in which the Board are administering the affairs of the new hospital, largely caused by their flouting of local tradesmen and the public. The latter may be hard taskmasters to please, but they have certain definite rights, and not* least that of making and unmaking public bodies, including Hospital Boards, and if these play the high game of ignoring public rights, sentiment, and principles, they must expect public chastisement in the form of public criticism. And the Board's actions in the important matters of large orders of crockery, and that of laying out of grounds, in ignoring local firms, without giving them a fair chance in open competition, was bound to bring its own retribution on the Board, especially the chairman, who has of his. own accord made himself into an irresistible target by his weak defence of the Board, etc., and in evident condonement of hole and corner methods of appointments on its staff, to wit, one in- I stance, among others, that of storeman, for which no applications were called, | thus violating one of the oldest time- , honoured usages and public rights. We were publicly assured that the appoint- , meut was only temporary and would be j advertised in due course. The public have waited weeks and even months. There are numbers of men in this city with many years' experience, and if (his appointment was ever intended to ( have been made in acco/] with common usage it should have been done before the present one was appointed, and have thus given all storemen a sporting chance. T am, etc., i TRO BONO. '