PARK ISLAND HOME

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 273, 23 November 1935, Page 3

PARK ISLAND HOME

Dannevirke and Committee

WAIPAWA BOARD’S CRITICISM

MR. L. STEIN’S SPIRITED REPLY

At Wednesday’s monthly meeting of the Dannevire Hospital Board, the tollowing letter, under date November 14th, was read from the secretary of the Waipawa Hospital Board, states the “Dannevirke News”: — “I am directed to inform you that your recent letter on this subject referring to the Park Island Finance Committee —was considered at the monthly meeting yesterday, when members expressed surprise at what they considered to be an unwarranted attack on Mr. W. H. Rathbone. They feel that the individual members of your board are not conversant with the true position, otherwise such a resolution would never have been passed, therefore the following resolution was carried: —

‘That the Dannevirke board be again informed that the appointment of the personnel of the Park Island Finance Committee is, in this board’s opinion, one which is entirely under the jurisdiction of the Park Island Joint Committee, and, further, that the Dannevirke board as a whole is apparently under some misapprehension, as their recent resolution would appear to indicate that they are not aware of resolutions on this subject standing in the Park Island Committee minute book’.”

“I do not want to start this thing all over again, but at the same time I cannot help thinking that the whole of the business was aimed at, not the. Dannevirke Hospital Board, but the chairman of the board,’ said Mr L. Stein, chairman, on rising to speak after the correspondence from the Waipawa board had been read.

Mr. Stein, quoting from a newspaper report of the last meeting of the Waipawa Board, said Mr. W. H. Rathbone had stated: “I would like to say this, that when the Finance Committee was originally set up it was on the motion of the chairman of the Dannevirke Hospital Board (Mr. Stein) that I was appointed to act with the Napier members.”

No Axe to Grind.

Proceeding, Mr. Stein said he had no axe to grind whatever under any circumstances, his whole aim being to secure a saving in expenditure, which was absolutely unnecessary. They had been told repeatedly by the secretary of the Napier Hospital Board •—who was secretary of the Park Island Committee —that the meetings of the Finance Committee in Napier were only a matter of form, the business being simply confined to the passing of accounts. As he had previously mentioned, the whole aim of Mr. Millar and himself, as their delegates on the Park Island Committee, had been to save as much expenditure as possible. That had always been his attitude since he had become chairman of the board. Mr. Stein said that Mr; T. P. Hunter, speaking at the Waipawa Board meeting, had said “he understood that Mr. Rathbone had not received any travelling expenses yet this year, so that the figures quoted must have referred to the previous year.” “All I know about this is that a letter was written to the secretary of the committee to have the administration expenses placed upon the table at the last meeting,” said Mr. Stein. “The official statement written by the secretary of the Park Island Committee showed that Mr. Rathbone’s expenses were exactly £21.” He did not know whether Mr Rathbone had received those expenses, but he could only accept the statement of the secretary of the Park Island Committee as being correct —if the secretary supplied the committee with information from his books he would take it as being absolutely correct.

Travelling Expenses.

Proceeding, Mr. Stein said Mr. Hunter went on to say: “That the travelling expenses incurred by the Dannevirke members in attending the meetings of the Park Island Committee were £5 9s, including £4 4s for car expenses and £1 5s for accommodation.” “Now, if Mr. Hunter is so anxious to save money for the Park Island Committee, why does he insist upon the chairman of the Waipawa Board representing his board and the Dannevirke board on the Finance Committee and travelling to Napier once a month?” asked Mr. Stein. When

he (Mr. Stein) attended the meetings of the Park Island Committee, in company with Mr. Miller, he only charged expenses of his car, whereas the two Waipawa representatives put in separate expenses. “If it is good enough for the Dannevirke members to travel by train to Napier, surely it is good enough also for the Waipawa delegates to travel by train,” added the chairman. He had never been extravagant so far as his board was concerned, and he considered it was the duty of every local body member to study the financial side of their respective institutions, consequently Mr. Hunter’s statement was very much exaggerated. It was the duty of Mr. Miller and himself to refute such ridiculous statements as had been made by Mr. Hunter. “Knew All The Facts.” The chairman said that Mr. Hunter had also said: “I feel sure that the Dannevirke Board members are not fully conversant with the full facts or they would not have passed this resolution.”

“Well, gentlemen, I don’t think you wil? accuse me of ever having dene anything which I have not fully explained to the Dannevirke Board,” commented Mr. Stein. “I had explained to my board what had taken place when I got back from Napier, and the resolution was passed by this board unanimously, knowing all the facts. Is that not so, gentlemen?” Mr. R. Morgan: Quite right. Mr. Stein: Instead of talking about useful matters the Waipawa board members talked about Mr. Stein because I have strived to save money. If you are not agreeable to what I have done I should like you to say so. It is time you gentlemen took some exception to what has been said at Waipawa, when I, your chairman, am accused of all the trouble.

Proceeding, Mr. Stein said: The secretary of the Waipawa Hospital Board had stated: “It has nothing to do with Mr. Stein, the Director-Gen-eral or this board.” He (the chairman) claimed that it had everything to do with the Dannevirke Hospital Board. If there was going to be a Finance Committee constituted for all time then the Dannevirke Hospital Board must have representation on that committee. The Dannevirke Hospital Board had just as intelligent members as the Waipawa Hospital Board—he had been associated with local bodies for 20 years, and knew an intelligent member when he saw one. He was very proud of the class of men that they had to-day on the Dannevirke Hospital Board and had had in the past. His only thought had always been for the welfare of the Dannevirke hospital, and he thought anyone in the board’s district would agree with him on that point.

Mr. Stein said Mr. N. G. Hawthorn had passed the remark: “It's all utter rot. We have nothing to do with the action of the Park Island Committee.” He (Mr. Stein) contended that any action of the Park Island Committee did concern the Waipawa Hospital Board, and indeed all the contributory boards. When a member passed such a remark as attributed to Mr Hawthorn all he could say was that such a person should not be on the board.' If a member of the Dannevirke Hospital Board said such a thing he would take to him. (Hear, hear.)

Perfectly True.

Proceeding, Mr. Stein said it was perfectly true that he had nominated Mr. Rathbone to be a member of the Finance Committee, but when' the committee was constituted the Park Island Committee was controlling the farm, and as Mr. Rathbone was a good farmer he considered he would be a useful member on it. However, since the earthquake the farm had been discontinued and, therefore, there was no necessity for the Finance Committee as at present constituted.

/ Remarks Resented.

Mr. Stein said Mr. Hawthorn had also stated: “I think they must go a bit dilly down at Dannevirke sometimes,” while Mr. Rathbone had referred to him (Mr. Stein), “As the most unreasonable man I have had to work with.” He (Mr. Stein) took exception-to these remarks, considering they were quite uncalled for. He had never descended to personalities in his public life —he was not objectiing to Mr. Rathbone being on the Park Island Committee, but he was objecting on principle to certain expenditure. “When you agree with Mr. Rathbone, you are quite a good chap,” he remarked. He (the chairman) denied that he was unreasonable, and, further, that he was acting in personal spite; he had taken up a purely

legal stand, and had no need to worry about personalities. He was going to object to this expenditure and to fight until the finish. He was pleased to say that he had the backing of the Health Department and the Audit Department, and “I am sure if we had all been dilly the Health Department and the Audit Department would not have stuck to us. Do you think so?” A member: No. Mr. Stein: We did not agree to the Park Island resolution; we have objected to it from the first, and we are not going to agree to it. We only want them to follow the Act, that is all. Concluding, Mr. Stein said he had never done anything without his action being confirmed by his board, and iu any decision adopted by the board he had always abided by it. He was sorry to have to bring the matter up again, but he do so with the view to having his actions confirmed. Confidence in Chairman. Mr. R. Morgan said personally — and he believed every member would support him—he thought that their chairman had acted quite correctly

in all that he had done, and he had very much pleasure in proposing that the action of the chairman —and also Mr Millar —be confirmed, and that the board had every confidence in him and Mr. Millar. Mr. Morgan said Mr Stein could be assured of the hearty support of all members. Mr. E. Harding, who seconded the motion, said he was sure that all the members would stand solidly behind their chairman and Mr Millar. Mr. A. H. Hansen: I quite agree with you. The motion was caried unanimously. The chairman: I thank you very much. I felt quite upset over the whole thing; you know my health has not been too good. When the chairman of a board makes a personal attack upon the chairman of another board without any reason whatever it is time for us to protest.