HOSPITAL DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 14

HOSPITAL DISPUTE

MATRON AT WAIHI REASON FOR DISMISSAL • - REQUEST BY SOLICITOR [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WAIHI, Tuesday Roiteration of his roquest at a special mooting of the Waihi Hospital Board recently, asking for tho reasons for tho dismissal of tho matron, Miss M. K. Stevenson, who was given threu months' salary, in lieu of notice, was made at the monthly meeting of the board this evening in a letter from Mr. I<\ C. V. Clark, solicitor acting for Miss Stevenson. "In your letter in reply to my last communication, you say the reasons for Miss Stevenson's dismissal are contained in the resolution of the board," said Mr. Clark. "With this statement I entirely disagree, and it appears to me that the board is begging the question. "The only reason for Miss Stevenson's dismissal given in tho resolution is contained in the words 'that wo as a board have no further use for Miss Stevenson's services as matron of this hospital.' Tho board knows perfectly well that this bald statement is not an answer to my letter. As the board has taken up this attitude of evasion it is perhaps well to express more plainly what Miss Stevenson is asking for. "Perlectly Plain Queatlon" "I am riot giving the board any further information, but only repeat the request, the nature of which it knows already. What Miss Stevenson wants to know is why tho board 'has no further use' for her. Is it that tho matron is no lortger required at the hospital P Is it that Miss Stevenson has been found to be incompetent to carry out her duties, and, if so, in what respects? Is it that she has be6n guilty of some misdemeanour which the board considered sufficiently grave to warrant her dismissal P "1 have asked that question before. I now repeat it. I hope this* letter is sufficiently clear and that there will bo no further evasion by tho board in answering a perfectly plain question " The chairman, Mr. A. E. Robinson, moved that the letter bo received. The motioD was carried. No Reason to be Given Mr. A. E. Johnson moved that the attention of Mr. Clark be drawn to a resolution already passed that the board had no further use for tho services of the matron. This was seconded by Mr. F. J. A. Campbell. Mr. J. McDermott said he thought a reason for the dismissal should be given. The Chairman: They are sheltering behind the law. If any one of you were to be dismissed, you would like to know 'the reason. In common fairness to tho woman a reason should be given. Mr. Johnson said there was no necessity for a reason to be given for the dismissal of an employee. The motion was carried.