"SACK THE BOARD!”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 26 June 1937, Page 8

"SACK THE BOARD!”

OUTSPOKEN WITNESS. EVIDENCE OF CLEAVAGE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Friday. At the Royal Commission investigating the affairs of the Napier Public Hospital this afternoon proceedings were again open to the press. Questioned by Mr N. A. Foden, Crown solicitor. Dr. J. Allan Berry said that the managing secretary had power to veto any expenditure, major or minor. Mr Foden: You did not resign as medical superintendent because of conflict with him? Witness: No. You endeavour to stick up for the. rights of the medical superintendent? You attribute some trouble to the fact that the managing secretary has usurped some of the highest authority?—l think so. Do you think there has been a lack of cohesion ? —Yes. Does it extend from the board downward ?—Yes. Board Disagreement. , On what point has the board been most sharply divided; your own suspension as a member of the staff and the dismissal of a sister?—Yes. In there anything else?—The question of tlie site of the isolation block has been one matter. Any cleavage of the hoard has been attributable largely lo your own status and what was to he done with the sister? —Yes. Sir James Elliott, a member of the commission: There are 50 beds at Hastings and 180 here? Witness: Yes. And the operating facilities are the same ?—Yes. You say you are getting more than your share of chronic cases?—Yes. Has Hastings more patients per bed per year than Napier?—That is my opinion. Have you any suggestions hoxv the differences between Napier and Hastings could ho reconciled?—Sack the hoard.

Sack the lot?—Yes, that is wortn thinking about. Could you do without a board?— Yes. Mr Charles Ormond Morse, a former chairman of the Hospital Board, of xvhirh he is at present one of the Napier members, said it xvas an admitted fact that there xvas a cleavage on the board between the Hastings an.l Napier members. This had been in evidence for some time. He did not consider it serious. The hearing was adjourned.