WILD AND WOOLLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 74, 13 October 1939, Page 5

WILD AND WOOLLY

OPOTIKI HOSPITAiL feOARD

ANOTHER BATTLE RAGES ■ ; < - ... 9 There were f.uthei* hostilities at Ifte last meeting of the Opotiki Hospital the dismissal of the medical .superintendent raid the matron again proving* a thorny subject. The clash of tongues commenced when it was stated that a letter had been received from the department of Health conveying the information that Dr Shore, "who had twice visited the hospital, had recommended the dismissals to the chairman. Mr E. J. Baigent contended that the recommendation was a very strong one to have been made without evidence, and Mr S. Maxwell, the chairman, said that Dr. Shore ■ ■ had given him no evidence. '"Yon see, gentlemen,'" he added, "the letter corroborates what I told the-, board." Dr Shore was familiar Avith the position from all angles, said Mr G. D. Brown. Mr Baigent (to the chairman).' The position is that people have lost confidence in the board and i've lost confidence in you. . A Storm. There was a stormy period when Mr Baigent asked if he could put ii question, the chairman objecting and half-a-dozen members talking afe the same time. Mr Baigent opposed a proposal to go on with the other business and when Mr S. Shalfoon objected to the whole trouble being brought up again at the board meetings. Mr Baigent said "It is a question of British justice and fair play. I demand the right to speak." He then asked, first what evidence did Dr Shore give the chairman In support of his recommendation to dismiss Dr Mail and the matron, and, second, "was certain evidence being withheld' from some members of the board, as certain professional and business men had told him that the chairman and certain members of the board possessed evidence of a serious nature against Dr Mail? Was there any truth in this statement? If 'so, were not all members made aware of the evidence. Thirdly he asked why did Mr ix. J. Neilson withhold a vital letter until such time as it changed the whole attitude of the board in dealing with the recent trouble?

An Argument.

The questions aroused strong opposition from the chairman and Mr Neilson and a wordy argument developed, Mr Neilson accusing ,Mr Baigent of using bad language. Mr Neilson said he had always been fair and open. Mr G. S. Moody said he didn't like to see members losing their tempers in this way. In his opinion there was nothing in the correspondence to warrant Dr Mail's dismissal. After further argument Mr Shalfoon and Mr Neilson Jeft the table as a protest. Mr Clark asked if he had taken action only at Dr Shore's request and without evidence. The chairman: I'm going to rule the matter be definitely dropped. Mr. Clark suggested that everything had been cut and dried before the dismissal. The chairman said he would put the motion that the board go on with other business. "School Kids." Mr Baigent said that as Messrs Shalfoon and Neilson had left l/he meeting they could not vote, but Mr Shalfoon said they had not withdrawn from the room. "School kids" would act better than the members,, he said as he sat doAvn.

The motion was carried, the, chairman,. Messrs Neilscxh, Shaifoon and Brown voting for it, and Messrs Clark, Baigent and Moody against it. ' ' ••