INCIDENT AT MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22010, 17 January 1935, Page 11

INCIDENT AT MEETING

WAIHI HOSPITAL BOARD MEMBER LEAVES THE. ROOM DISCUSSION ON FINANCES [by telegraph—OWN correspondent! WAIHI. Wednesday Differences of opinion on various matters, including resignations of the staff and additional expenditure at a time when he considered the board could not afford it, led to the withdrawal of Mr. A. E. Johnson from the room at the monthly meeting of the Waihi Hospital Board last evening with an intimation that his resignation would be forthcoming in due course. More than once Mr. Johnson crossed verbal swords with the chairman, Mr. A. E. Robinson. "What is the use of our getting them here if we cannot keep them?" asked Mr. Johnson when the monthly report of the matron was under discussion and the question of the salaries paid to nurses in other hospitals was raised. "More nurses in proportion leave our hospital than any other." "Can you prove your assertions?" asked the chairman. "Have you any figures to show that Waihi has more changes than other places?" Mr. Johnson: I will bring them along later.

The Chairman: Can you prore it? Come on, yes or no. Mr. Johnson said ho could, but he. had not the data available at the moment. He added that there had been three resignations during the months and he understood one girl had had to resign. Why was that? he asked. The chairman suggested that the medical superintendent, Dr. L. R. Hetherington, could give the reason in committee if the . board so desired.

"Why go into committee?" asked Mr. Johnson. "If we do I will not honour my word;" It was decided to hear the explanation in committee and the report was •then adopted.

The recommendation of Dr. Hetherington in his report that the salary of the deputy-matron should be increased from that of a staff sister in view of her added responsibility, and in order to retain her services, was opposed by Mr. Johnson for financial reasons. This attitude was also adopted by Mr. B. Pascoe, who thought the board was not justified in incurring further expense'at the moment. Eventually it was decided to increase the deputy-matron's salary by £4 a year, thus bringing it back to the amount at which she was engaged, and which was the sum in excess of the minimum for a staff sister.

Exception to the carrying out of certain works mentioned in the report of the House Committee when. the overdraft stood at more than £SOO was also taken by Mr. Johnson. The work referred to was certain improvements to a room, including paperhanging, and Mr. Johnson claimed that this was not justified at the present time. "If I owed a man £531 do you think . I would be putting paper and scrim on my walls unless I could pay off some of the debt?" he said. "I woidd not like to see any girl working for me, sleeping in filth," remarked Mr. J. Cooper. "I cannot sit here any longer," said Mr. Johnson, rising. "I will hand in my resignation in due course." He then left the room.