HOSPITAL MATRON'S CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17296, 21 October 1919, Page 6

HOSPITAL MATRON'S CASE.

MONEY GRANT FROM BOARD.

-AUDIT OFFICE OBJECTION.

. PBESS ASSOCIATION.I

CKRISTCHTJKCH, Mo-nday.

More trouble appears to be brewing for the North Canterbury Hospital Board in respect of Miss M. Tbnrston. formerly matron at Chrisfcchwa-ch Hospital. The latest development is the objection of the Audit Office to consider legal the Board's action on September Vd in voting Miss Thurston eight months' salary in lieu of eight months' leave of absence on full pay, which the Board granted Miss Thurston, but which, she was unable to accept before taking up military hospital duties in England.

The Audit Office has surcharged the amount, approximately £166, to every member of the Hospital Board. It is understood that the illegality of the board's action consists in voting money to Miss Thurston after she had ceased to be in the board's employ.

In 1916 Miss Thurston was grantee? leave of absence to take the position of lady superintendent of the Walton-on-Thames Hospital, and was subsequently appointed lady suoei mdent in charge of all New Zealand hospitals in England. In February last the board decided to inform Miss Thurston that after the termination of her engagement by the Defence Department she would be given six months' leave of absence on full pay. -with a view of terminating her engagement with the board, as she was not in the position she went to Enjrland to occupv. At a later meeting of the board letter? were read from Colonel Parkes and General Richardson as to 'the value of Miss Thurston's service*? and the difficulty of liberating her from her duties.