HOSPITAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 226, 21 June 1944, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD

Mr. H. F. Toogood New Chairman COMMITTEES ELECTED The Wellington Hospital Board, at Its first statutory meeting last night, elect ed Mr. H. F. Toogood as its chairman. Mr. Toogood was chairman of the building committee in the previous board. On the motion of Mr. F. W. Furkert, a new method of voting was adopted. Mr. Fiirkert said he understood that there would be several candidates, and it would bo most regrettable if the chairman were elected on a minority vote. When the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church elected a new Pope they used possibly tho most democratic method ever devised. He suggested the adoption of a similar method, with a series of ballots, the lowest candidates being eliminated each time, till someone had a clear majority.

Five members received votes in the first ballot, and the finalists were Mr. Toogood and Mrs. Knox Gilmer. The following committees were elected by the ordinary method, the chairman of the board being a member of each committee ex officio:—

Polijy and finance: Mr. W. J. Gaudin, Mr. C. Meachen, Mr. V. M. Simpson, Mr. A. H. Carman, Mr. J. C. Crawford, Mr. R. H. Parton. Staff and house: Mrs. S. E. Blake, Mr. W. J. Gaudin, Mr. C. Meachen, Mr. J. Purvis, Mr. A. P. O’Shea. Miss I. Cable.

Building: Mr. F. W. Furkert, Mr. R H. Parton, Mr. J. C. Crawford, Mr. W S. Cederliolni, Mr. A. H. Carman. Mrs. Knox Gilmer. Mr. W. Toomath, Miss I. Cable?

Social welfare: Mr. G. Petherick, Mr. C. Meachen, Mr. J. Purvis, Mr. V. M. Simpson, Mr. W. Toomath, Mrs. S. E. Blake. Before the election of committees Mr. O’Shea asked that the following notice of motion in his name should be discussed:

"That the present policy and finance committee be replaced by a committee of the board as a whole which shall sit monthly in place of the present policy and finance committee to deal with all matters at present coming within the scope of the said committee.” It was explained that, as the notice given to members was not the full time provided for in the standing orders, the motion could be. discussed only with the unanimous consent of all members present. Mrs. Gilmer objecting, the matter was not discussed. Mr. O'Shea intimated that he would bring his motion forward again at a later date. He did not seek election to the policy and finance committee. Later Mrs. Gilmer said that she had apparently been under a misapprehension. She had taken Mr. O’Shea’s notice of motion to imply that the policy and finance committee meetings would be open to the Press. Mr. O’Shea said that, if the board had given him the opportunity, he would have explained the point. He advocated a “committee of the board," which would not bo open to the Press. Tlis view was that, ns there were several new members of the board, it would be of benefit to all to be kept in touch with policy and finance.