DISPUTE OVER CIRCULAR

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1932, Page 7

DISPUTE OVER CIRCULAR

“ALMOST A DISCOURTESY” HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION ACTION. WELLINGTON BOARD LEFT OUT, . BOARD TO SEEK . EXPLANATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. I Allegations; that the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association liad issued a circular to affiliated boards upon the Wellington proposal for a board of hospitals but had omitted the Wellington hospital from the distribution were made at the Wellington Hospital Board meeting this afternoon. lhe board took a serious view of the omission. ' , , it. Dr. Campbell • Begg moved and •.ho chairman of the board, Mr. F. Castle, seconded a motion which was carried unanimously: (1) That the board write to the secretary of the Hospital Boards Association and the president and inquire why the circular was sent out m regard to the Wellington Board proposals for a hospital board reorganisation without consulting available members of the executive, including the chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board; (2) whether the circular was sent to a number of selected hospital boards, and if not what boards were omitted in addition to the Wellington .Board; (3) whether any attempt was made to inform the chairman of the Wellington Board that the president oi the Hospital Boards’ Association tended to interview the Prime Minister and Minister of Health in order that the Wellington Board would- have an opportunity of putting i f s own views forward; (4) what was the intention of the president of the association in recommending the boards to approach their members of Parliament in regard to the proposals after the matter had already been placed before the Government by Mr. W. Wallace, its president; (5) that a special meeting of the board be convened on April 6 to consider what fuller steps should be taken in regard to the future relation of that board to the Hospital Boards’ Association and to its president. The matter was introduced by the chairman of the board, who said the circular, which was dated February 20, had already been sent to all boards, but a copy had not been sent to the Wellington Board. That almost amounted to discourtesy. As a subscriber to the association the Wellington Board haxl equal rights with the other boa-ids. Mr. C. M. Luke also deplored the situation. ' , , r Er. Campbell Begg quoted from a report of a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board which stated: “A letter was received from the Hospital Boards Association stating that the proposals would have the effect of materially altering the existing hospital system, and tlrnt they must not be introduced into Parliament until the individual hospital boards had had ample time and opportunity to fully consider them. The association asked the Wanganui Board to forward a protest to the Prime Minister and the. Minister of Health against any legislation being introduced of the nature of the proposals until the .hospital boards had deliberated on them "at the conference to be held- probably in June. The board of hospitals sug*. gested in the proposals would assume control of the powers which' the Act had vested in tile elected members of hospital boards and of Parliament.” In view of the facts Er. Begg thought-the board should ascertain under what circumstances ; the ; circular had been,sent and then consider what kind of action it was to take in future. He then moved the motion,.which was carried unanimously.