A STRONG ACTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 72, 10 May 1946, Page 5

A STRONG ACTION

HOSPITAL BOARD S FIRM STAND

MEMBER FORFEITS SEAT By virtue of the fact that for four consecutive meetings, and without leave of absence or tender of apology, Mr C. H. McCready has absented himself from the Whakatane Hospital Board, the Board at its meeting on Thursday decided to implement the law governing the constitution of Hospital Board’s and to take steps to notify the County Council that it required a new nominee in Mr McCready’s place.

The matter which was introduced by the chairman (Mr J. Mullins) caused a variety of expressions of opinion, Mr F. Burt declaring that in all his 40 years service on local bodies he had never seen the actual law invoked, though he had known of severe warnings given. Mr Suckling advised waiting until next month, as the fourth meeting which invoked the Act ' was only taking place that day.

The chairman said that the matter appeared to be out of their hands. If a member offended in the manner mentioned, automatically he forfieted his membership. He read extracts of the Act bearing on the position, and added that he thought the Board had no option but to accept the position and to move for a new appointee. He asked the Board if members considered Mr McCready had been fair to them in taking absolutely no action to seek leave of absence.

Mr Caulfield said he took Mr McCready’s attitude as treating the Board with contempt. He had no hesitation in saying that he (Mr McCready) had failed to realise his position as a member. The Chairman': If there are regulations to observe it is my duty as chairman to see that they are carried out! On Mr Caulfield’s motion it was decided that in the event of Mr McCready not being in attendance before the end of the meeting, the secretary be instructed to notify the County Council of the position which had become vacant and requesting that steps be taken to make a new appointment.