EXTRAVAGANCE DENIED

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 14

EXTRAVAGANCE DENIED

PROTEST AGAINST REPORT THE HOSPITALS’ LABORATORY. DR. LYNCH ASKED TO EXPLAIN. Strong exception to certain statements allegedly made by Dr. Lynch in describing as extravagant the equipment at the laboratory of the New Plymouth hospital was taken by members of the Taranaki laboratory committee who met at Stratford yesterday. Members onsidered that an extract sent on by the Health Department from a report submitted by Dr. Lynch was erroneous in fact, and tended to reflect upon the management of the laboratory. Dr. Lynch had reported that extravagance was apparent in the equipment, but this could not be so as practically all the equipment in the laboratory was derived from the old laboratory and had been in existence long ago. Certainly the surroundings had been made more elaborate and attractive, but this feature was a definite part of the building scheme of the New Plymouth Hospital Board and had been done at no cost to the committee.

After the points raised by Dr. Lynch’s report had been discussed it was decidea to communicate with him asking for a statement of the reasons which actuated his use of the word extravagant.

There were present at the meeting Messrs. S. Vickers and E. Holden, (Taranaki Hospital Board), H. McKay, F. Gillanders and C. Harrison (Hawera), W. L, Kennedy and T. L. Penn (Stratford). Thdj bacteriologist stationed at New Plymouth, Mr. V. J. Hawke, was also present. Mr. Vickers was voted to the chair. That the committee was fortunate in having the services of such a competent bacteriologist as Mr. Hawke was mentioned in a report received from the Health Department. The report pointed out that it was desirable that there should be greater uniformity in such - matters as staffing and salaries, and appended a statement of the position at the various laboratories in New Zealand as well as of the fees paid. The department considered the report on the New Plymouth laboratory to be highly satisfactory, but quoted an extract in which Dr. Lynch mentioned the extravagance displayed in equipment. It was mentioned that the new centrefuge was on its way from England. It would cost about £2B.

. The department is to be asked to take steps to reinstate the 20 per cent, salary cuts of officers, in view of the extra work carried out by the laboratory for the department. " Mention was made of the increasing need for an ice chest to prevent vaccines and serums being affected by varying temperatures, but the question of purchasing such an appliance was deferred until the estimates were being framed for next year. Meanwhile the contributing hospital boards are to be advised of the position and of the committee’s recommendation to secure a suitable ice chest.

Contributing boards are also to be recommended to increase the salary paid to the bacteriologist from £350 to £4OO in view of the fact that his predecessor received £450 per annum. A vote of thanks was accorded the Stratford Hospital Board for the use of its board room, speakers making mention of the cordial relations that existed between the respective boards.