THE QUESTION OF HOSPITAL LIGHTING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7345, 25 January 1911, Page 1

THE QUESTION OF HOSPITAL LIGHTING

GAS OR ELECTRICITY ? BRISK DISCUSSION AT BOARD MEETING. The personal element was largely in evidence yesterday at the Hostpital and Charitable Aid Board meeting, when the following recommendation from the committee was considered: That the lighting committee is investigating the question of using gas or electricity for lighting and heat- . ing, and is having further information procured. Mr It. B. Gardener, referring to the fact that three fresh names were added to the committee at tho last meeting of tile board, said he desired to add two further names, Messrs Mcli'wen and Godber. He thought it-was-about time the constitution of the committee was altered. Of the members of the committee four were city councillors. He did not wash to say that any of them' were biased in regard to this question, but when they found letters appearing in the public press in which one of the members of the committee stated that he-had instructed a'.corporation officer to reply to a letter in the interests of electricity, he thought it showed very bad taste. When members of the committee took the trouble to write to the. press advocating their own views in regard to public lighting he thought it was absolutely wrong. Sir D. Robertson: Why not add my j name to the committee ? I have goodreason to bo on it. I have had a good look round. ... ; ■ ~ Mr Gardener agreed to the inclusion of Mr Robertson's name in his motion.

Mr A. H. Hindma.rsh thought it was pity Mr : Fitzgerald had' committed himself, but so far as the other members of the council on the committee were concerned, they had not expressed an opinion one way or another. Mr Trevor had: always expressed himself on the side of gas. but Mr Smith and. himself.(Sir Hindmarsh) had not. Of course, 'if Mr Robertson had snch a low opinion of mankind and could not give them credit for being honest, and for trying to get at'the bottom of this question, then.it was to be regretted. He hoped the board would not put Mr Robertson, oh , the committee. Mi' Robert-son was always talking about. "scrapping" things and 'came there and made querulous remarks. • Mr ,T. Godber rose to ,r point of order. "We are not here," he said, "to discuss the personnel of members." Mr.lfindmarsli: I am perfectly in order. ' The addition of Mr Robertson's name to the'ooniniitt'ee has-been moved. ..The chairman (Mr Aitkcn): I cannot i.prevent any member discussing. thes*> names anii their suitability, but I .would* suggest that_ probably Mr Hindnnrsh has discussed this question quite-sufficiently. Mr Hindniarsh: It is a slur upon us, and I object to Mr Robertson going on the committee. ! AMENDMENT SUPPORTED. Mr J. E. Fitzgerald said he did not object much himself to Mr Gardener's remarks. So far as he knew the members of tho City Council'on the eonrviit-I tee they were not only progressive but' absolutely fair, and men who had the j con-fidenco of- the .peoplo of Wellington, i With Councillor Smith he was asked by the lighting committee of the City Council to make certain representations, and he ventured to say that the very fact of their being- councillors would, if their suggestions were carried into . effect,, be instrumental in saving the board a large sum of money annually. He would support the amendment, and wanted to get Mr Robertson on the committee, to convince him, if he was open to conviction—which ho very much doubted—that electricity was superior to j}as. Ho did- not regret writing anything to the papers;. Mr London did the same. "But," he added, " I don't like a man who stands at a street corner; Mr Robertson is one of. those men I want to meet in open debate." '■ . ■;.-''

Mr Godber: I think-there is such; a thing as unconscious bias, and Mr. Fitz-i gerald has shown something in _ that direction. At the same time, I 'don't thihk.it is advisable to add to the committee, so that it will have to commence the whole, of its work.de novo. I want to see the. best thing carried. out for the hospital. -,,.-.■ • • Mr Fitzgerald:; Does he call knowledge unconscious bias??

Mr J. Smith.: I deprecate 6uch allusions to mea who have stood through! contests in this city for the last twentyfive years, and because they are'\ city councillors that they have no right on the committee.- If every member of the committee was a councillor, he would use- his owji judgment with, regaad to what was brought before tlio committee. .1 don't think it is.'fair for Mr Gardener, or. Mr Robertson, or anyone to. throw-, a slur upon men doing a public duty. Mr 1). McLaren: This motioii; Is "nothing more than a reflection, upon the: committee set up. The committee has, got to present the facts to the board,,and 1 believe the other, members of the', board who are not on the committee will see that the facts are properly presented, and then we have the, final decision in our own,hands. .'lt is entirely unbusinesslike to tinker with a committee when it has half finished its work.'.,MrD. Robertson: We all want to.be on this committee. • Mr' Hindmarsh has given lots of Teasons why he didn't want me on the committee. Since the committee was set. up I have had a good walk through the hospital, teeing the lighting, heating, and everything'iu connection with-it.. lam going to.,use my knowledge for the benefit""of the hospital, whether it suits the City Council or not, and. that is the reason, when '"1 saw the ebmfmittee packed, with City. councillors, I thought I' would go "there and see fair play for'the hospital.. That's the reason why I desire to get there. The. Rev.: 11. . Van•;Staveren.. regretted that tile previous, speaker had reflected on.''the character qf public men entrusted with tho spending of the money. THE FACTS.. SHOULD! TRIUMPH. -Mr'-'R. C. Kirk reminded;-.the board that the oW committee went fully into this matter.' Then the board decided to increase the numbers of the committee, when Messrs Smith and Fitzgerald were added. A great .deal of work had been, I put in, and all were actuated with ai desire to have the facts brought out, and ! that the facts should' triumph in each j case. If they were again to have" three I or four new. names added, 'then they would have to start their work de novo. | Although the committee as at present

constituted' comprised four councillors and three non-councillors, he saw no -reason why the should be <ln-. minated by the ' councillors. If he, thought that. he. as chairman, wan'd! com'e to the board and- ask to have the. committee strengthened. >fr Gardeners proposal to add new names: to the committee was lost hr seven votes to stv, the chairman, not, voting, and the report of the committee, wits-.-received- •