Not Resigning

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 16, 12 October 1937, Page 4

Not Resigning

DR. WILSON'S STAND Legislation Should Be Made Universal

BOARD'S APPRECIATION

Stating that he did ttot apee With the recommendation of the Koyal Gommission that a member of the lionorary medical staff should not also be a lneniDer of the board, Dr. H. M. Wilson iniormed the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board at it,s mottthly meeting in Napier yesterday that he had no mtention of resigning his position. He added that before he left the poBition to which he iiad been elected by the ratOpayers he would have to feel stire that there was no censure attached to him, and gave the opinion that any such ruling should be made univeisal before being brought mto effect. "The commission recommended that no member of the board should be a member of the honorary staff, ' ' said L)r. Wilson. "That gave me a good deal of thought, for several reasons, and one was that I did not agree with it. . "I have discusaed the matter fully with my friends, and, as 1 said, have given it a good deal of thought. The County Oouneii discussed the matter today, and asked me to continue in the position to which I had been elected, and I have decided to continue. "What is wrong in Napier is Wrong in Wellington or Auckland, or anywhere eise, and it has got to be universal -betore I resign the position to which 1 was elected. I have been connected with the hospital as long, 1 think, as any living person. I came here in 1904, and before me my father was dentist to the hospital. Between us, my father and myself have been connected with the hospital for about. 50 .years. "When I go ofE this hospital, I will only go off it with a clean name. 1 will not go off with a suggestion that my departure was hastened by the commissiqn. Practice in England " I do not agree with the suggestion that members of the honorary staff should not be members of the board," continued Dr. Wilson. "In Eiigland in many of the hospitals members oi the honorary staff were also membera of the governing body, but the method of election is different. "I have been connected with the hOBpital since 1 qualified 35 years ago, and I have held during that time practlcally all the positions there are to hold. 3 am definitely of the opinion that there must be collaboration between tne honorary staff and the governing t>ody. 1 hope that when the Act is altered some coguisance will be taken of chat." "When the Director-General of Health, Dr. H. M. Watt, met the board he said that it was a personal mattei for yourself, Dr. Wilson," said the chairman, Mr C. Lassen. "Your services are greatly appreciated, and members will be pleased, until such time as legislation is brought forward, for you to rcmain with them." In order to have closer co-operation between the board and the honorary staff, a committee consisting of the medical supefintendent, Dr. J. J. Foley, the chairman of the board, and tne chairman of both the honorary staffa at both the Napier and Memorial hospitals, was set up, the committee to m«et monthly. Dr. A. G. Clark is chairman of the nonorary staff at Napier, and Dr. H. M. Wilson chairman at Hastings.