MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 404, 13 January 1909, Page 4

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

THE AUCKLAND CHARCES. (BI TELEGUifiI- efSCHkJ, COIHIRSTONDEST.) ''■• AuoUland, January 11. At this afternoon's meeting of tho Auckland Hospital Board a letter was received from tho clerk, of.'tlie Newmarket Borough Council containing the copy of a'rosolution passed by tho council at a mebting of tho council held on December 21, as follows i— "This council begs to call the attention of the Hospital Board to an article appearing in the 'Auckland Star , of December 16, under the heading, 'The' Doctor, the Public, and the B.M.A., 1 referring to tho public hospital, with a request that: steps be taken to ascertain the statement contained 'therein is borne out' by facts, and, if so, to take "steps to j)revent_ theirrecurrence." ■ '■ .The chairman, Mr. George Knight, said they had all seen the accounts in the "Star." He had taken steps to get all the reliable di M» available. . Tlie secretary- had written to tho "Star" asking for'names and'substantiativo information, and tho editor had replied, that the purpose of tho articles in the "Star had been to put an end to a system of boycotting, and, in doing this, they, had endeavoured to avoid the introduction of any personal element. There was a probability; of matter being brought before Parliament ■ during next session, and in the event of a public inquiry, then being sot up evidence relating to the cases would be duly forthcoming. ■- If tho board would ask for a Eoyal. Commission the editor of tho "Star" would be Willing to furnish tho information to carry on the investigation. . x Mr.; L. J.. Bagnell said this was a matter affecting tho hospital in a different manner to ■the way. the . "Star"- had taken the- question up. The .: hospital, 'ho said, was' not connected ' with either P?rty, and did not wish to bo identified with either. These allusions seemed to imply that someone in the hospital was in collusion with some of the B.MIA, doctors; who were fighting against medical men not member? of the B,M,A. He had drawn the chairman's attention to the statements, and the> had decided that it was desirable to ask tho' editor of the "Star" for'tho names, of those concerned. It was a "difficult question, and they had.nowto consider tho advisability of asking the honorary medical staff could they identify, the cases-from tho evidence before them, or whether they should leave thomair ; t«r.as it. stood. . Ho was satisfied that they, could prove.to the public that the board and tho hospital authorities and officers were not; in any way to blamo,. ,He thought-that three of the cases scould be possibly identified, but they were in doubt about, the fourth. It desirablo to ascertain what these eases really wero, so that they might explain the true facts,, because.the records wore pbtain,able.at the hospital. Some.of these cases occurred twelve months ago, and, the facts woro on record,,and if made public they would make the aspect ef the ca'es altogether differe'ht. If what the editpr of the'" Star " sug-gested-took-place, and a Royal Cpmmission was appointed, it would be nine months -before anything could bo done,.arid during that' timo the hospital and charitable authorities would be under a certain vague charge. Ho thought, it .would be better, that the matter should not bo allowed to remain in aboyance, -since the information obtainable from tho records would make the .cases..' quite clear to tho public He moved that thc:Hos- ! pital Committee be requested to inquire and report at the next meeting. > : "■ ,■'■■■■-. ' Mr. Coyle said that if the cases wore cor-' reot, v then there .'was . something seriously wrong,..,. The matter, should, if possible, be : cleared up to the satisfaction, of tho public' :He seconded the motion. :

/■ .MrrC Knighf said he did not think-the statements, made, m the "Star" would be' borno out by facts- It had been already made dear what the open policy of the hospital •was. : He_was sorry they had been unable to. obtain information in a positive form ' The-matter was referred to tho HospitaV Committee to'jrepbrt, ';■