POSITION FILLED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 98, 14 July 1944, Page 5

POSITION FILLED

HOSPITAL BOARD CHAIRMANSHIP

MR L. BUDDLE ELECTED

After considerable debate and a heated objection by Mr H. C. McCready, Mr L. Buddie' yesterday, decided to accept the position of chairman to the Whakatane Hospital Board 1 , following Mr A., F. McGougan's rejection - of the position to which he had been elected' in his absence last month. Mr Bud'dle's was the only nomination put forward' and he accepted the post on' the understanding; that he could expect ■ a certain degree of support to the building programme to which the Board was now pledg- ■ ed. Mr McGougan said he was con- ; scious of the honour which was offered him but he did. not feel competent to take the position and considered Mr Buddie the natural choice of the Board. He had studied hospital business and was fully conversant with the loan proposal which ' they were now committed to. He ■ (Mr McGougan) was strongly opposed to the suggestion of cancelling the contract which he considered an ; absurd course. The farmers had a problem to lace, but they had to fight it outside local bodies who were elected for a set purpose. The Board was expected to use its com- , monsense and judgment, in these matters and it simply could not af--"ford to let doctors and nurses carry on under circumstances which made 'efficiency impossible. He scouted the idea that lie had in any way been a party to the pledge which ■had been printed in the BEACON, and added that it was his intention to carry on as in the past,, but to contest any major expenditure. He then moved that Mr Buddie be clect<>ed to the chair. Somersault Alleged "I'd just like to say that never in • all my local body experience have I seen such a reversal of form," said Mr McCready. He contended that Mr McGougan had first of ail voted for the loan then against it, . and was now siding with it again. The ratepayers had given them a mandate when, they had stood on a certain ticket, and now, here, they were hedging about the question of who should be chairman. The ratepayers had strongly objected to the loan and the manner in which it was rushed through at the last minute, -and yet it appeared that members were once more prepared to put in the same chairman. What was wrong with them? On. the call of the secretary there were still no further nominations. Mr Buddie's Statement Mr Buddie' then stated that before members were asked to vote he •would like to make a short statesmen M He would ignore the more personal aspect of the last speaker's remarks, and would content himself with saying that whatever the ■ old Board had done it would stand the light of day,, and if they had been wrong in any of their deliberations they would be told in no uncertain way. Mr Buddie then went •on to say that if he could feel assured of a substantial majority in the carrying out of the present building programme and of the general maintenance of the hospital he would feel it his duty .to accept chairmanship. He realised that it might mean a difficulty to .some members, but he would naturally want a promise of some co-op-eration if he "rt'ere. to shoulder the •responsibility. If he were elected! lie felt he would be entitled to as- j sume that, he would get that measurt •of support. As far as any other expenditure of a major nature; then he realised that it would be the Board members duty in view of their pledge to form their own opinions.! In the meantime the rating system .might be altered,, but, then again it might not,. Confidence Expressed Mr Mullins said that he favoured Mr Buddie's nomination, but he •would like to reserve his opinion on the question of acquiring the cottages adjacent the hospital. He did not favour breaking the present contract. Heavy compensation was too much like throwing money away. Mr Caulfield expressed a similar opinion, adding that Mr Buddie was the ideal man. Mr Buddie then explained that the amended plans did away with the heavy cost of the original nurses home, and in order to supply alternative accommodation the cottages had been considered as part of the loan programme, in which they were included. To the old mcmbeifs it was understood as part of the modified scheme.. Question of Staff Mr Caulfield: If the new plans make for an 80-bed hospital and the daily average to-day exceeds that number, why will you need extra staff to handle that number? Mr Buddie: The present staff is

considerably overworked. Mr McCready: This is a pretty hot state of affairs. Mr Buddie' refuses to take, the chair unless we give him a promise of support. Why can't he take it like any other chairman. If we promise to be good boys he'll agree to take charge. I say, if he's not prepared to take the position openly, let him get up and say so. It was a disgracc.ful state of As for the staff lie added that he did not think they were overworked, and enquh'ed of the secretary the number. Mr Bridger: Forty-three, on the nursing staff and 30' on the general, a total of seventy-three. Mr McCready: There you are. Almost one to every patient. I'd like to know how it averages out in other hospitals. If -yve are going toj sit down and take this sort of thing, T'd like to know what the ratepayers will think. We have certainly changed our tune since the last election. Some of the. ratepayers prophesied that this would happen and now it has. Cottages An Asset Mr Suckling said that the cottages were a necessity, as new wards meant new staff and they had to be accommodated. "I consider them a distinct asse.t," said Mr F. Burt. "When we finish with them we can sell or lease them. We won't lose on them, and it will save us something like. £15,000, which was to have been spent on the nurses' home. The secretary then put. Mr Buddie's nomination to the meeting, all members with the exception of Mr McCready voting in favour, and the latter sounding an emphatic 'no' when the contrary opinion was asked for. Mr Buddie then briefly returned thanks for the confidence reposed in him and undertook to do his best in the interests of the Board and the institution.