THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13613, 5 December 1907, Page 6

THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEES. The annual meeting'of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon, there being present: Messrs. L. J. Bagnall, C. D. Grey, G. Knight, and P. M. Mackay (representing the City Council), J. Jenkin and M. J. Coyle (boards of road districts in Eden County), S. Schofield (Parnell and Grey Lynn Borough Councils), E. H. Davis (Birkenhead, Mount Eden and Newmarket Borough Councils), G. E. Rutherford and \ Sturges (boards of road and town districts in Manukau Country and Onehunga Borough Council), and A. Bruce (Rodney and Waitemata Counties and Devonport Borough Council). . Mr. L. J. Bagnall, the retiring chairman, said the business of the meeting was the election of the chairman and the various committees for the ensuing year. He had been asked to allow himself to be nominated for the position for another year, but, he understood there was a wish on the part of some members of the Board that Mr-. Knight should bo elected. As he (Mr. Bagnall) was only too glad to have the opportunity of being relieved of the onerous duties of the position, and as ho believed it was always more conducive to harmonious proceedings if there were no contest, he was glad to find someone like Mr. Knight willing to undertake the duties. He would, therefore, move that Mr. Knight be elected chairman for the ensuing term. He did this because he believed it was the expressed wish of some members that there should be a change ; lie did not understand why, for he felt that during the- year he had done his duty in every way possible, and what was proper and right. While lie was .glad to be relieved of the position, he would have undertaken it for anotner term had it been the unanimous wish of the Board that lie should do so, but he would not oppose another member. He did not know what the result, of a vote would be, and had no wish to know. He had served to- the best o) nis ability, and ho wouid hand over the position with the greatest satisfaction to Mr. Knight, or any other member. Mr. Bruce seconded toe motion. Mr. Davis regretted that Mr. Bagnall did not seek re-election,'as the new members had been loking to, him to guide them.

Mr.' Sfchoiield -said that while he knew Mr. Knight and believed him capable of the duties ho (Mr. tfchoiield), as a new member, would have liked to see Mr. Bagnall in the chair for another year. It was scarcely possible for anyone to become familiar with all the details of the important work of the Board in a short time, and Mr. Bagnall would have been able to guide the new members, and give them the value of his experience. Mr. BagnaU had done excellent work. Mr. Bagnall: I don't, refuser to act, but I refuse a contest. UuieL-s it is the unanimous wish of the Board, I don't want the position: The motion was then carried.' Mr. Knight, in returning thanks for his election, said he felt exceedingly obliged to Mr. Bagnall for putting the .: proposal before the Board. It was not a position he had been anxious in, any. way to, fill, and he had never given a thought to it, and the carrying out of the duties would be at some personal sacrifice. ' Anyone who understood the duties of the Hospital and Ciiaritable Aid Board, and the working of the hospital, Costley Home, , and' other institutions would realise .that there was a vast' amount of detail work fehe chairman had to be familiar with. He realised this, and submitted himself with the full assurance of the .sacrifice he would have to make. He thanked the - members for the honour conferred upon him, and asked their loyal -support- in the carrying out of the progressive policy which, had been installed and inaugurated. '. He wanted to face everything from an economical point of view—that was, economy with efficiency. It was customary at that meeting to elect the committees,, but,-he proposed, in order to- allow members to decide which committees would suit best, that the election should stand over till next meeting. ....... Mr. BagnaU: .It would be.unwise to do so, for there are three committee meetings required before next Board meeting, and all the business would have to 6tand over in the meantime. The committees were then elected; as follows : —Hospital . Committee : Messrs.' Knisrht, \ Bruce, Bagnall, and Sturges. Charitable Aid and/Costley Home Committee : Messrs. Knight, Coyle, Jeukin, Rutherford, and ScTTofield. Finance -.Commit-' tee l- Messrs. Knight, Grey, Davis, Bagnall and Macka}-. <; l The matter of a new hot-water tank iu : the nurses' home was referred to the 'Hospital Committee, with power to act. . Mr. Davis proposed a vote 'of thanks to the retiring chairman (Mr. Bagnall) and the retiring members' for their services during the past , term. He very much' regretted that the Board was losing the services of Mr. Bagnall as chairman, and also that it had -lost ■ the services of Mr. Bloomfield, one of the most energetic members who had ever sat on the Board. Mr. Mackay: The retiring members have already been thanked. It remains to thank the chairman.

Mr. Davis, altered his motion, accordingly, and Mr. Knight seconded it, remarking that Mr. Bagnall had spent a great deal of time in the Board's service.

The vote was then carried unanimously, and Mr. Bagnall briefly returned thanks.