SEQUEL TO RECONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING DISPUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 October 1930, Page 2

SEQUEL TO RECONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING DISPUTE

MURCHISON MEDICAL OFFICER ACTION BY NELSON HOSPITAL BOARD * Owing to trouble between the Murchison County Council and. the Nelson Hospital Board’s subsidised medical officer at Murchison over the reconstruction of the doctor’s residence, the Nelson Hospital Board at its September meeting went into committee to discuss the matter. It was then resolved that the correspondence received on the matter be referred to the Murchison County Council, - and that any fiitther action be taken by r the Town Committee of the board. ■At yesterday’s meeting of the Board the Town Committee reported that- it had made investigations and had passed a resolution “that it would he in the best interests of the people of the Murchison district if a change were made in the medical officer” and Dr. Potaka was requested to hand in his resignation to the board. The action had been intimated to the Director-General of Health. However a letter was received from Dr. Potaka at yesterday’s meeting in which he refused to tender his resignation on the “flimsy grounds” stated by the board—that it would be in thei best interests of the Murchison people. The chairman, Mr F. W. O; Smith, explained the Town Committee’s action. He said he had been in conversation with the Director-General of Health on the matter, and that officer’s opinion had been that if the Murchison people upheld a previous request for Dr. Potaka to remain, the Board should withdraw its subsidy. The chairman said he understood a public meeting held at Murchison on Tuesday night, attended by 150 people, asked the Murchison Council to reconsider the matter. ■'

The Managing Secretary explained that the temporary County Clerk at Murchison, Mr Sorenson, had asked the board, on behalf of the 'council, to. y hold its hand until • Saturday next, when the* Council would hear a deputation from Tuesday’s public meeting. The chairman said the Doctor ha.d been asked to resign and had refused, therefore he considered the only thing to do was to give the officer notice oi his dismissal.

Mrs A. Watson considered the, board should wait 'in view of the County’s request. . "

Mr B. F. Spiers (Murchison, representative on the board): “No we should not wait. If I recounted what happened.at Tuesday’s public meeting at Murchison you would not think so.” He said that of the 150 present about 50 voted for the retention of .the doctor and about four against. The chairman’s suggestion was unanimously adopted on the motion of Major Dagger seconded by Mr S. Tunnicliffe.