DR. PLATTS-MILLS & RECENT ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1742, 6 May 1913, Page 6

DR. PLATTS-MILLS & RECENT ELECTION.

AMUSING QUESTION RAISED. Dr. Platts-Mills, who polled a record total of 11,088 votes—a record i'or New Zealand—at the recent election of members for the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, is a member of the honorary medical staff of tile Hospital, and in regard to this latter position. the validity of . her title to a scat on tho boar.l has bpen challenged in certain quarters, both before ami- after' Hie election. The matter was raised at the lirst. meeting of tho newly-elected board yesterday, when the secretary of I lie board (Mr. J. Coyle) read the text o'f a legal opinion submitted bv the board's solicitors (.Messrs. Quick and Hard) on tins particular point. 'Die oninion, which was a fairly' lengthy, one, staled, in the concluding paragraph, that: "A member of the honorary staff is not 'disqualified, by holding such position, from being elected or appointed a member of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, provided such member of the honorary staff makes no pecuniary profit, even of tho smallest nature, by holding such office." When the reading of the opinion had concluded, Mr. G. Nash asked who had raised the question.

Mr. H. Baldwin, rising: I will answer that question

"[ have got the chair," interrupted Mr. Nash. "When the question is answered I have a resolution to propose." The chairman (the I'ev. AV. A. Evans) explained that he himself hud heard (he question rai.-ed. The board's secretary had also been asked Iho question, and hail applied to .him, as an ex-chair-iniiri of the board, to advise him. ITis leuly iiad been: "You have the board's solicitors—ask them." Personally, it was not his business to advise anyone on the point at issue—hence his remark to the board's secretary. "And: who is going to pay for this legal opinion on such a ridiculous question?" demanded Mr. Nash. J)r. Plntls-Mills, who was applauded on rising to speak, (hen enlightened the board. She said (lint she was ghul tlio question had been raised, and raised so soon, as she desired to. have her clearly defined before voting upon any question before the board. Before the election she had consulted, first. Mr, A. H. Hiiidmarsh, and latterly, Jlr. D. M. Finilhiy. and each had informed her that her candidature was quite in order. Mr. 11. Baldwin remarked that lie was the .member of the board who had approached the secretary about the matter, mid he had done so with the sole object of ensuring that Dr. Vlafls-Mills's position should not bs .in any way prejudiced. As (<: the cost of the legal opinion, if the board objected to the payment he would himself pay the fee. Mr. G. Nash then desired to move his re-olution. "What is your resolution. s " asked the chairman. "That Dr. Piatts-Mills be now declared duly electcd," replied Mr. Nash. "She has already been declared duly, electcd," said the chairman. "The matter has now been dealt with, and 1 hone we shall liear no more of it," he added.