CONFIDENCE in Hospital Chairman

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 51, 16 March 1937, Page 6

CONFIDENCE in Hospital Chairman

BOARD'S VOTE. Congratulated On His Work ONE DISSENTIENT Members of the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board expressed their confidence in Mr. 6. Lassen as chairman at yesterday 's meeting. On the other hand, a notice of motion of no-confidence, which Mr. C. O. Morse had previously expressed his intention of moving, was not moved. Mr. Lassen was congratulated upon the manner in which he had undertaken problems which, it was alleged, were a legacy left to him by -the past chairman (Mr. Morse). Several members paid tribute to the work carried out hy Mr. Lassen since ho assunted office, but Mr. Morse requested that his vote against the motion of confidence be recorded. Mr. Lassen deplored ■ the remarks made by Mr. A."E. Bedford at a meeting of the Napier Borough Council to, the effect that the Napier Hospital was the birthright of the people of. Napier, but was being controlled by people outside, and quoted figures to show that about a quarter of a million pounds was being contribnted towards the hospital 's maintenance, as against Napier 's £64,142. .The motion of confidence in Mr. Lassen was moved by Mr. J. B. Campbell. "Seeing that you are getting it'in the neek to-day," he said,'"I wish to move a vote of confidence " in you- as chairman. Ypu are to be congratulated upon the way you have tried to clean up problems which were not of your own making, but which were a -legacy left to you by the previous chairman. Mr. Morse: Qh, that is pretty hot. Mr. Campbell: You are being subjected to a good deal of attack and criticism, but. time will prove the wisdom cf your actions, and we will have an institution which will redound to your credit. Mr Hoadley, who is .not here to-day, unfortunately, fully concurs in what I have said and he- intended to movo a motion of confidence "in you. "I have every confidence in you, Mr. Chairman, afid pefsonally I feel .that you are the right man in the right place," said Mr. E. Harding. Mr. Bedford: Why the motion? There is no motion of no-confidence. Grounds For Motion. "I heartily support the motion, as we have gfounds for ti,". said Mr. Duff. "You had been in office only -a short time when you got 'the plans for the isolation block finalised and also the additions at Hastings. The conduct of ■ the inquiry, which was not of yofir own seeking, reflected the greatest of credit upon you. You carried out an exceedingly unpleasant task which had to be carried through. "I was very perturbed at what Mr. Morse said at the speeial meeting. Heknew that in the proceedings just disposed of the chairman had the support of six members. That did n6t indicate any lack of support. Mr. Morse must have had his own reasons for what he said. I could not understand the attitude he took over the inquiry. He made one statement in committee and an en-

tirely different one in public. I sub* mit that Dr. Berry made au error oi judgment in refusing to give evidencs. If they are fair, both Mr. Morse and Mr. Bedford will admit that Dr. Berry made a mistake. In effect thejr have said that Dr. Berry was justifiei "Mr. Morse had the temerity aftet that meeting to have starred in the Press that he was going to move & motion of no-confidence. Now: that called for serious comment, and I think he was wise in not going on with it." In stating that he supported Mr, Duff, Mr. McKee said that there had been a certain amount of dissatisfaction arOund the table which he deplored. When he was a member ox the board under Mr. Morse 's chairmanship he at least was never guilty of any bickering, His opinion was- that every memb'er could make an honest attempt to help the affairs of the board on smoothly, Matters had been condueted smoothly, inoreover, until the present trouble "I think now that Dr. Berry was very unwise in not giving evidence. at the inquiry," eoncluded Mr. McKee. Worthy Chairman. "I think you, Mr. Chairman, are a very worthy chairman of this board," said Dr. Berry. "I don't think you could be a better chairman, but the real pain I have suffered to-day arises out of that point of honour. In answer to Mr. McKee, whom I admire, I had good reasons for not attending the in-* quiry— very good reasons." "I am strongly in favour of the mo-* tion and think we ought not to gq back on the chairman," said Dr. H. M, Wilson. "Mr Morse 's speech at the special meeting was most painfuL He attacked the chairman and insulted hiuy I have never heard anyone tuake such a speech as you did, Mr. Morse. You were entitled to defend Dr. Beriy if yon wanted to, but the way you attacked the chairman was deplorable. The chairman was greatly stung by your re« ' marks, and when yon sat down his face was all red, showing that he was great- . ly embarrassed. "I am not alone in this opinion," he added. "Many people in the conntry , have told me that they were terribly disgusted when they read the report of Mr. Morse 's remarks." - * Mr. Morse: Thank you. Mr. Campbell said that the chairman had beeq' left a legacy by myself, the late chairman. I say that Mr. Campbell is very inconsistent and I would like to point ont that, accorjcling to Press reports at_ the end of my term as chairman, members commended my work. To bolster up the chairman, Mr. Campbell consid- , ers that he has been left a legacy by myself. Mr. Duff;. Mr. Campbell did not know you then. Mr. Morse: [What stung me at the special meeting was the talk by the ; chairman of the bathing of the infants, ;; He compared this with the scalding of pigs. I thought that a terrible thing, and I thought such a compaxison 'was . odious. That prompted me to move my motion of no-confidence. Dr. Berry: If .the motion were modi* fied to read that he has been a worthy chairman, I would vote for it. Mr. Campbell 's motion was then put and carried. Mr. Morse asked that his vote against the motion be recorded. Mr. Lassen'a Thanks. "Thank yon, gentlemen, for- you* confidence in me," said Mr. Lassen, "I have had to face numberg of difficnlties since I took over office. When taking over, I set a course which I consider should be taken in the xunning of the hospitaL Without sueh a course we cannot expect to have diseipline Within three months the plans were finalised for both the isolation block and the additions to the Hastings Hospital, while other matters of urgency also received my attention. "I cannot help but refer to the statements which .came recently from the Napier Borough Council," he went on. "I am not concerned about the statements of my being a Mussolini, But I am concerned with what Mr, Bedford said about the 'hospital on the hill being Napier 's birthright, but wa* . controlled by people outside.' "Since 1923-24, the'payments by the various contributing local bodies have been as follow: — Hawke's Bay County Council, £184,554; Napier Borough Council, £64,142; Hastings Borough Council, £55,100; Havelock North Town Board, £5130; Taradale Town Board, £4353; -making a total of £313,279. Deducting Napier 's total, there is left a balance contributed outside of Napier of £249.137. * , "Surely those who have contributed a quarter of a million towards the maintenance of the hospital have some right in its management. Mr. Bedford also made statements about the nurses re* signing. His remarks were very unfair. A report before the board setting out the resignations of the nurses was adopted without comment. "The remarks made by Mr. Bedford were incorrect and grossly exaggerated. This year there have been 19 resignations, as against 31 for the previous year. That was a serious statement for a member of the board to make. It was a slur on the institution and a sluj also on the medical superintendent and the matron. They can't oome out and make statements in defence of theniselves, but I, as chairman of the board, am ^oing to defend them against such forms of attack." In conclusion, Mr. Lassen said he had tried to steer a course that would put the hospital on a more satisfactory footing.