NEARING A CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1538, 6 September 1912, Page 7

NEARING A CRISIS.

WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD, "TAGS" AND OTHER MATTERS. (By Telegraph.—Spccial Correjpondent.) Hokitika, September 5. Matters in- connection with the affairs of the Westland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board are rapidly approaching A crisis. As ono result of the strictures passed by Dr. Mdiison, an officer of the Public Health Department (Mr. Kershaw) is now in town investigating the administration of the 1 oard apart from the financial aspect, and ho has not been idle. The Audit Department seems to be on tho verge of shaking things up, and the board has been, advised that the matter of the "tags" on the 1911 balance-sheet has been placed in tho hands of tho Solicitor-Gen-eral. Quite a number of "tags" are attached to the new balance-sheet, including one taking exception to tho amount drawn by the secretary for travelling expenses, namely, £M os. (kl., in addition to his salary of ,£200.' It was pointed out by the Auditor-General that the amount, which apparently included expenses drawn by tho chairman and members, was in t excess of that provided by law, . Another "tag" points out that payments have been made without the authority of law by fray" of fixed- allowances to tho chairman and travelling espenses, the item being .£99 13s. Tho sum of £26 drawn by the chairman for expenses incurred in attending a Conference /of Hospital Boards at Wellington, is also taken exception to, Several other amounts, including (612 ■■ 15s. trap" hire, are included in the list. Another "tag" points out that the board's bank overdraft exceeded by £'tt ss. 6d. the amount allowed by law, and that building fund money had been improperly pledged as security for tho board's indebtedness.

[ In view, of the advice that the- Solicited' General was to handle- tho matter in future, the board held a special meeting this morning, and after some of the members had indulged in some caustic eminent upon the very full report of tho previous evening's proceedings which appeared in this morning's West Coast "Times," the board decided to go into committee, a-nd by that method put a gag upon the press. It is understood, hOwover, that the committee of the board decided to write to the Department. The only purpose such a, pl'dcodure call serve frill be an.attempt to further shelve the matter. Having temporarily gagged tho press, the board now hopes to bluff the Department. They have done this in the past, but it is felt hero that tho Massey Government is composed- of the wrohg sort of material to allow' any wire-pulling to prevent them discharging their duty to the public.