ABOUT A DAIRY FARM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 6

ABOUT A DAIRY FARM

A NOISY DISCUSSION HOSPITAL BOARD DECIDES A BIG QUESTION There was quite a lively scene at the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid JJoard yesterday afternoon, wlieu the Rev. Dr. J. Kennedy Elliott moved that a ceriain recommendation included in the report of the Finance, Property, and Policy Committee respecting taking steps to i purchase a dairy' farm in the vicinity of Wellington should be discussed in open board. The speaker said that he was totally opposed to tlie board sponding such a large sum ot money on a dairy farm without the ratepayers knowing anything about it. If it was righj; for the board to go in for a dairy farm why should it not go in for £i sheep-farm. The decision was come to in committee,'■ and the ratepayers had never had the opportunity to consider tho matter at all. Mr. U. Nash: Mr. Kennedy is quite right—the whole matter is in its lfr i fancy. 1 I Mr. M'Laren stated that the board ' had agreed to the motion. That wafl over and done with.

Dr. Elliott: In committee!"

. Mr. M'Laren: Well, there was a tuna when it camo up for confirmation. Why was- not the whole matter opened up ■Ujcnl - Dr. Elliott: It was all done m the committee.

Mr. M'Laren (excitedly): Never mmy ex))erience in public life has there been any question which I. was. not prepared to discuss on the public platform. I've been in public 'life a long time. Mr. Na&h: That is. why you get a lot of htitudo. T ■ ~ ..Mr. M'Laren (with heat): "I don t wsht any impertinence from any member of the board." He maintained that whilst negotiations wero in progress and fibres were being talked, he. could not sffggest that the matter should. be discussed in open meeting. No man who had tire slightest knowledge of. business would do such a ; thing.' At the same time he wished to cover nothing up, and 'when the time came for confirming the resolution the whole subject should be openly discussed. _ Mr. J. W. M'Ewen stated, that Mr. M'Laren's arguments were unanswerable'. Whether the farm mentioned was purchased or not the negotiations hau reached a stage when it would be childish to discuss the matter in open board. He would object to the proposal to go into open board. . ' Dr. Elliott said that the simple question was that the board proposed to spend a very large amount of money, and that it was proposed to do committee. They may as well go m for a sheep, run or a trawler. He would move that the board should not go into committee. • Mr. M'Laren:' Dr. Elliott failed 'to discusG the matter when it came up for confirmation. , ' • Br; Elliott: I would like to ask tho chairman a question: Were the members of the Press present when the. resolution was confirmed? -. Tho chairman: No, I don't believe they were. Dr. Mackenzie, wished to' go into particulars about the property proposed to be purchased, the upkeep of which l would ho £1400 a year. Mr. David Robertson, who had seconded Dr. Elliott's motion, said that it ■was not right for. the board to expend so large a sum of money on . a dairyfarm. What they should do was to call for tenders for a three years' suppjy and see that the milk inspectors did their duty. The board could' not manage such a farm, but would have to depend on someone over whom they could exercise very little control. The point was also raised by Mr. Robertson of the board adopting such a policy at a time liko the present, when the country was at war and finances unstable. He protested against ;a' decision being arrived at in . committee. He was a ratepayers' representative, and was of opinion that the ratepayers should know air about it.

Finally the motion to remain in open board, moved by Dr. .T. Kennedy Elliott, and seconded by Mr. D. Robertson, was put, and defeated on the, voices.