APPEAL DISMISSED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 103, 26 January 1943, Page 4

APPEAL DISMISSED

Doctor Who Left Position At Sunnyside (Bv Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 25. The adjourned appeal by Dr. Joseph Cecil Douglas Macky against the decision of the manpower officer in refusing him permission to terminate his employment at Sunnyside Mental Hospital came before the Industrial Manpower Committee this morning. Dr. Macky left Sunnyside in March last and took up private 1 practice in Helensville. It was stated today that he had subsequently been dismissed from his post at Sunnyside on an instruction from the Public Service Commissioner. • Dr T. G. Gray, Director-General ot Mental Hospitals, said that the department regarded the appeal as extremely important; not only because of the shortage of medical officers, but also because of the effect of the decision on the workin" of mental hospitals as an essential undertaking. The view of the department. was that Dr. Macky had committed an offence and, if he were allowed to oo so without penalty, then other officers were entitled to take the 'same action. Dr. Gray added that, in his evidence at Auckland, Dr. Macky had said that he was an assistant medical officer when, actually, he was deputy-superintendent. Dr. Gray suggested that Dr. Macky had left Sunnyside to improve his financial, position as he was “hard pressed.” The chairman : I don’t think you should say that unless you can .prove it. —Dr. Gray : I ean. The chairman: In any ease, I donor whether it is admissible. Treatment of Patients.

It was incorrect for Dr. Macky to say that 75 tier cent, of the cases.were custodial, continued Dr. Gray. No medical officers bad a right, to regard custodial patients as cases apart. All these cases had to be watched, for the whole object nt treatment was to move the patients from worse categories to better. No case was put down as hopeless and certainly not 75 per cent, of them.' He explained that there was an examination and follow-up system at. regular intervals for patients. Each patient got careful and meticulous attention The district manpower officer, Mr. H. L. R. Read, explained Unit when Dr. Macky put in his application for release in March, he was on sick leave, and it was not till April 24 that he was able to trace Dr. Macky, who by then had gone to Helensville. The head office then took the view that an appeal could not be allowed because of the lapse of time. “We are satisfied that Dr. Macky intended to appeal against the direction ot tlie manpower officer and took all reasonable steps to bring it before the board, said the chairman. “It is unfortunate that, in the normal course, the ease was not before us in May or June. was reason for Dr. Macky to think thut the question of his job would be settleu during his month’s leave. “We arc satisfied that the Mental Hospitals Department is doing work and is seriously understaffed, ne are satisfied that had the appeal come up in Maj’, we would have taken the same view as the manpower officer, we niust uphold the view of the manpower otlicer, and therefore the appeal is dismissed. We express the opinion that Dr. Mack} was not to blame for the delay in bringing the appeal, and pass no adverse comments against his motive in wishing to work at Helensville. ’ ■ The chairman said that it was not proper for the committee to comment on the question of a prosecution.