HOSPITAL BOARDS

Southland Times, Issue 21580, 18 December 1931, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARDS

ASSOCIATION’S CONFERENCE.

DR BEGG’S PROTEST.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, December 17.

Strong disapproval of the proposal of the Hospital Boards’ Association to hold a conference early next year on the ground that it would involve drawing on public funds without a prospect of commensurate advantage, was expressed by Dr R. Campbell Begg at a meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board to-day. Dr Begg said he had no objection to the association “holding as many conferences as it liked,’’ provided the delegates paid their own qjepenses.

Correspondence laid on the table showed that recently the board had asked the association to waive the annual subscription.

The association replied declining the request and pointing out that this year the subscription had been reduced by 50 per cent. Wellington’s share was shown at £5O.

Dr Begg said that in view of the board’s finances, he thought the question of subscription should be given a good deal of thought. He might be wrong, he said, but he was under the impression that a good deal of the association’s money went to—ward the payment of the delegates’ expenses.

Mr F. Castle, chairman: A balance-sheet is issued and is available to all members.

Dr Begg moved that the question of payment of subscription be deferred until the board had had an opportunity of making recommendations to the association in regard to the holding of the next conference.

The motion was seconded by Mr A. T. Markman. After a warm discussion, the chairman said that most of the boards had already paid. He was sure Wellington did not wish to be placed in the position of a defaulter. He suggested that the board should agree to the payment of the subscription. The question whether delegates should be sent could then be discussed.

Dr Begg: I wish to enter an emphatic protest against the conference being held at the expense of the public. Having made my protest, I am quite willing to withdraw my motion with the consent of my seconder. The motion was withdrawn accordingly. Tlie question of appointing delegates was deferred until the January meeting of the board. The conference is to be held at Timaru on February 3.