SEAT ON HOSPITAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 150, 21 March 1939, Page 3

SEAT ON HOSPITAL BOARD

Cr. Gaudin’s Appointment

PROTEST BY DEPUTATION OF LABOUR INTERESTS

The appointment of Cr. W. J. Gaudin as Wellington City Council representative on the hospital board was the subject of a pi’otest made to the mayor, Mr. Hislop, by a deputation from the Wellington Labour Representation Committee yesterday. Members of the deputation described as “unsportsmanlike” and “an injustice” the appointment of Cr. Gaudin instead of one from the list of defeated candidates at the last hospital board election, and notice of motion has been given for the calling of a special meeting of the city councl to discuss the rescinding of the appointment and the question of a byelection.

The deputation consisted of Alessrs. R. AlcKeen, ALP., J. Read and J. Collins, and Airs. Margaret Semple. Air. AlcKeen said, the Labour Representation Committee had 2i,000 members in the city of Wellington alone, and felt that the appointment of Cr. Gaudin, who was not even a candidate at the last municipal election, was unsportsmanlike on the part of the members of . the city council. By-election Proposed. “We feel that a meeting should be called by the city council for the purpose of arranging a by-election to, fill this position, said Air. AlcKeen. “We had three unsuccessful candidates at the last election, Air. R. Holland with more than 19,000 votes, Mrs. R. M. Col' lins, with more than 18,000 votes, and Air.’J. Tucker, also with more than 18,000 votes.- The practice in the past has been to appoint the next unsuccessful candidate, and formerly the council has appointed them to the vacancies. The last instance was some years ago, when the Rev. Mr. A'an Staveren resigned, and Mr. Helliwell, who was next on the list, was appointed by the city council. There were three Labour councillors then on the city council, Air. R. Semple, Air. C. H. Chapman, M.P., and nxvself. We raised no objection then, as it was the right thing to do.

“The position as stated by the mover of Cr. Gaudin as a candidate, Cr. R. L. Macalister, was that an increased proportion of the costs of the hospital was being paid by the council, and some check should‘be placed on the board’s expenditure. We think the idea of appointing a councillor was only another means of frustrating the legitimate rights of the Labour councillors to a place on the board, and that now a by-election should be held.” Air. Read said he had been in touch with many members of the Labour Representation Committee, and they felt that something had been “put across” them. “We feel that justice has not been done,” he said, “and that there will be repercussions from the public.” Mrs. Collins, said Mrs. Semple, would be taking the place of a woman. Air. Gaudin was not a candidate and she did not think that the direct appointment from the city council was right. “Unfettered Choice.” “The provision in the Act is that the city council should within two months elect a person in place of any person who may cease to be a member of the board,” said the mayor. “That power is free and unfettered as far as the legislation is concerned. If it had been the considered opinion of Parliament that the next person on the list should have been appointed, it would have been very easy for that to have appeared in the Act. It therefore was a matter for each councillor to vote. I asked for nominations; there were two, and one was elected. It is very difficult to alter the position now, which is entirely within the rights of the council. If a special meeting is decided to call the matter up again, I think you must call it by notice of motion. I do not know that I can do anything about it myself. If A’ou put in. a requisition for a special meeting I will call one.”