PETITIONS FAIL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20016, 15 August 1939, Page 11

PETITIONS FAIL

POSTS AT HOSPITAL

RETENTION DECLINED

DECISIONS AT AUCKLAND

RUG RETS OF CHAIRMAN

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. By the same majority of eight votes to four the Auckland Hospital Board at a meeting last night adhered to its decision to terminate the appointments of the chiefs of the divisions of medicine and surgery, Dr. C. It. Burns and Mr. J. M. Clarke, respectively. A motion to rescind the previous resolution presented by Dr. Hastings was lest after more than an hour of debate in which petitions signed by nurses and patients were introduced.

The nurses’ petition, which carried 279 signatures, was os follows: “We. the undersigned, of the nursing stall of the Auckland Hospital, do hereby respectfully appeal to the membes Oj. the Hospital Board to reconsider their decision to abolish the positions of directors of medicine and surgery. We feel that the deprivation of the benefits of these two offices will be an unestimable loss, not only to Use patients, but also to the nursing staff.”

In presenting his motion for a rescission of the board's previous decision, Dr. Hastings said that the eyes of people throughout the Dominion were focused on the boards' activities. It was a big issue on which would hang the good name of the board. Widespread Interest He did not know of any subject which had provoked ■ such widespread interest. Communications which he had received from many parts of the country included the petition signed by rpprpximately 350 in-patients o( the hospital voicing disappointment ai the board’s action in terminating the appointments. Continuing, Dr. Hastings said the services of two brilliant men were to be terminated at the briefest possible notice. War. this likely to prove an asset to the board? he asked. He thought that fully 75 per rent of fairminded. people of the Dominion were opposed to Ihe board's •action. Replying to Dr. Hastings. Mr. J. Ma-ekie. the chairman of the finance committee, said that he regretted the nurses had sent 7. p-t■it'.C’".. The hos-

pit.ql should not be used in this way All accusation had been made that thi board had not been sincere in it. 1

grounds for dispencing with the services of the two doctors. He said that the present basis of hospital administration on the medical side did not make it possible to utilise their services in a way commensurate with the salaries paid.