Letter Not Withheld

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 32, 22 February 1937, Page 7

Letter Not Withheld

WAIPAWA HOSPITAL DISPUTE Director-General's Advke oii Secretaryship CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Tbe chairman of tbe Waipawa Hospital Board, Mt W. H. RatbBone, Made tbe foliowing Statement to tbe Hetald-Tribilne to-day: "In refutation of tbe statement tbat I failed to impart to board members a communication from tbe Directot-General of Health advising me tbat it was my duty to suspend tbe managing-secretafy, I would likd to • say tbat on February 12, tbe day after tbe Supreme Court bearing of tbe reCent case, I received a letter from tbe DirectorGeneral. I replied to it tbe same day. At tbe meeting of tbe finance committee of tbe board on February 12, 1 read tbe letter, not at tbe request 6 f Mr Fraser, and my reply, tbat as tbe managing-Secre-tary bad been acquitted by tbe Supreme Court on all cbarges I bad given bim permission to carry on till tbe matter bad been considered by tbe fuR board. m tbe dieeussion tbat foilowed all members present, inciuding Mr Frasfir, agreed witb my action. "in regard to Mr H. M. Ghristie's statement tbat an offlcer of the Health Department was investigating the offiee administfation of the board, I may sby that this offlcer'S Visit was puteiy for the purpose of making the department's periodical inspectiont In proof of this, there ia his statement to iii© personally that he was not hei'e on any speeial mission, but purely in his ordinary official capacity. "Regarding Mr N- G' Hawthorn's request for a ministerial inquiry, also mentioned by Mr Ghristie, I would welcome this in every way. I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear, and for that reason would he very glad to see an inquiry instituted. "In conelusion, 1 may say that I greatly regret tbe feelings SboWn against me by Mr Fraser. We bave been i'fiends for a great number of

years, and as far as I personally am eoncerned I can see no reason why tbat friendship sbould be broken. "It is not correct tbat Mr Fraser occupied tbe position of depUty-chair-man of tbe board. Tbere is no such position, as tbe Hospital and Cbaritable Aid BoardS Act does not provide for one. Tbe chairman is elected for each two years. For tbe period 1934-1936 Mr Fraser was elected deputy-chairman in error. In June, 1936, bowever, be was not fe-eieeted."