REPLY TO BOARD’S CRITICISM

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 13

REPLY TO BOARD’S CRITICISM

Member’s Article About Wanganui Hospital MOTION OF CENSURE RESENTED Dominion Special Service. WANGANUI, March 27. Members of the board bad engaged in .“an undignified scramble lor his political scalp”; criticism of bis actions was inspired by political rancour. said Mr. H. Lawrence, a member of the Wanganui Hospital Board, today, commenting on a motion of censure passed at the last meeting of tlie board. The motion was as to<lows; "That in the opinion of this board .Mr. Lawrence's action in writing the article on the Wanganui hospital which appeared in the ‘Standard’ under date March 9, 1939, was totally unwarranted and unjustified and displayed a regrettable lack of loyalty; mid Mr. Lawrence be called upon to make an apology to the hoard for his action.” “1. do not sec any justification for the board’s claim to censor my actions as the local correspondent to the ‘Standard, said Mr. Lawrence. “All matters of interest to the readers are legitimate material for me to use in that capacity. Questions of public and political interest tire necessarily the essentials. As the article is fair and reasonable comment and is perfectly true iu essence and in detail I am of tlie opinion that Hie board has no reasonable cause in taking any exception to the publication in the ‘Standard” or any other newspaper of the facts as stated. . "Mr. W. J. Rogers gave it as his opinion that the board had no legal right to take action in the matter. Mr. Rogers, quoting from the Act governing hospitals and charitable institutions, said that 'Mr. Lawrence has not broken any of his statutory obligations and therefore the board has no jurisdiction Io deal with the matter.’ ' “Another board member. Mr. T. C. Kincaid, who is a lawyer, agreed, and then inconsistently proceeded to do what he had already admitted he had no right to do when he moved his motion. “Taking all the facts into consideration. I feel quite .justified in resenting the action of the mover and seconder as an act of gross impertinence in seeking to dictate to me as to my activities mid impose restrictions on my rights mid privileges as a citizen in a demoneratie country. I mn of opinion that 1 am entitled fo an apology for them for their undignified scramble for my political scalp and the intemperate terms of their comment.”

Mr. Lawrence said be intended to incorporate this statement in a letter to tlie board.