VARIED VIEWPOINTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 37, 22 January 1946, Page 7

VARIED VIEWPOINTS

MAYOR & COUNTY CHAIRMAN

DELAY OF HOSPITAL CONFERENCE

1 1 A tense atmosphere pervaded the ■ opening stages of last Tuesday’s conference between County Borough and Hospital Board representatives on the question of amalgamation when Mr B. S. Barry, Mayor of Whakatane called J'or an explanation from Mr J. L. Burnett chair-

man of the County Council for certain remarks lie. was reported to I have made at the December mcetU ing of the County Council. .Mr Barry said that the remarks-

las published gave an absolutely J wrong impression. The difficulties jin arranging a conference were not! |to be laid at the door of tlie Borough Council. The suggested date

December J 8 was not suitable to I tlie council most of the members I hieing busy with their shops during!

I Xmas week. Never at any time had I it been suggested 'that the Borough Council could not meet in the evening as the chairman had said. The only thing which made the night [meeting impossible was when the County Clerk bad said he could not give any indication of whether such a meeting could, be called until the

J day before. Mr Barry said lie uiijr Jderstood the chairman had been aptpointed to arrange a date with him. Never at any time bad he done this anti lie (Mr Barry) had felt very upset that such a statement had been made. The Borough Council I had done everything possible to meet | the County and he resented anything to tlie contrary. «

Mr Burnett; What are the re- J marks you took exception to ? Mr Barry: What you said about approaching me. Never at any time did you approach either myself or Mr Saunders. } Mr Burnett then retraced the history of the County’s, first move to convene a which he said had commenced on September 5, He recalled the fact that month after month the Borough Council had

been approached and had found reason for making the proposed day unsuitable. First they wanted more time. Then they wanted to learn what the Government would do in the face of the Select Com-1 mittee’s report. When even the 18th December was not found suitable

lie had contacted Mr Barrv through' Mr Lucas, and he understood that it had been finally agreed to meet on the 15th. He could not see anything

wrong with. that. Mr Barry: It’s not a fair tiling lor one public man to say against another. We have met you in every possible, way and could not advise you any earlier on account of the holidays and the busy Christmas

period. Mr Burnett: Occasionally farmers also find it difficult to attend meetings as well, as businessmen. Mr Barry: I’m not disputing that. Mr Burnett: Then we can take, it as a compliment to ourselves that you have met us here today. Mr Butler: I’d like to see the bush ness of the meeting proceeded with.

Mr Burnett: Then can we let this matter drap, Mr Barry: Well I’d like to get on with the business as much as anybody else but 1 think you should concede us’ that we have been doing what we could to meet you. Mr Burnett: Well I can only say that it was most unfortunate that

you had not been able to meet us before. Time is getting on and we have been trying for four months to call this conference. We arc. very glad to sec you here today. The matter was then dropped.