HOSPITAL BOARD ELECTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD ELECTIONS

THE SYSTEM CONDEMNED.

The system of electing members to the Auckland Hospital, and Charitable Aid Board came in for strong condemnation at tho meeting of tho Onehunga Borough Council on Monday evening. The Mayor (Mr. John Rowo) held aloft a proxy form, and then explained that on each occasion -when an election took placo for mon to represent the Onchungaand Manukau district only about three representatives of the local bodies interested would put in an appearance at the Otahuhu Public Hall, -where the voting takes place. About 12 or 14 Road Boards and the Onehunga Borough Council were the bodies interested, and sometimes the Council,and the Otahuhu and Panmure Road Boards were the only bodies to send along delegates. The ' worst phase of the whole question was the fact that sometimes one- delegate would bo in possession of about 10 proxies, the whole of which ho could use to place whomsoever he pleased on the Hospital Board. This was not as it should be, and in his (the Major's) opinion local bodies should each send a delegate to vote, or else not have a vote at all. Tho present system was farcical,, and he was pleased to see that the Government contemplated taking action so that Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards would be elected either by the ratepayers or by the popular vote. ■-■'•■ Several councillors endorsed the Mayor's remarks, after which Mr. ' Rowe was appointed as delegate to the next election, to be held at Otahuhu on Wednesday, the 24th inst. !So far Messrs. Sturgos and J. Rutherford, sitting members, are the only candidates announced.