HOSPITAL CONFERENCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5089, 16 February 1927, Page 4

HOSPITAL CONFERENCE.

DISCUSSION BY TH AMRS BOARD. CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY TO GO A letter was received from the Hospital Boards’ Association at Monday’s meeting o’f the Thames Hospital Board advising that the annual conference of hospital boards would be held at Christchurch commencing on March 1. Mr C. W. Parfitt moved that the chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) and the secretary (Mr G. Tonge) be authorised to attend. Mr A. R. Robinson seconded. In moving as an amendment that the matter be deferred for 12 months Mr J. Lange said that in his opinion the conference was merely a picnic ground fCir delegates. The Thames board became “very small fry” in the hands o'f delegates from the large city hospitals, and he could not see that any good purpose could be served by sending two delegates from Thames. Mr J. W. Danby seconded the amendment. The chairman stated that he was going, and intended to assist in getting mdre representatives of country hospitals on the executive. Mr Lange contended that the expense of attending the conference was sheer, waste of money. Still, he hoped the chairman and secretary would enjoy the trip, which they were really getting on charitable aid, and return in good health. Mr, Parfitt suggested that the amendment should be put to tfie meeting. Mr Lange said he hoped that the local delegates would make an earnest endeavour to 1 have the status of house surgeons put on a proper footing. If that was done it would certainly be some compensation for the expense of atttending the conference. The chairman said that in his opinion it was desirable that country hospital boards should be represented. The conference gave .them fair and impartial consideration, and as the result O'f being represented at previous conferences he contended that the position o’f the Thames Hospital had improved. ' Mr C. W. Kennedy said he considered it desirable for the board to send delegates. It was .the prerogative of the chairman and the secretary to attend. Mr Danby said he hoped the delegates would pay special attention to matters brought forward by delegates in opposition to the wishes of city hospitals. The chairman said that he would have pleasure in carrying out Mr Danby’s wishes. To Mr Lange he said that if the. annual conferences did nothing else, they tended to' keep the B.M.A. in its position. Mr Lange replied that the B.M.A. was not frightened o’f the conferences. The chairman added that if the country hospitals organised he believed they would get the majority on the executive of the. conference,, and surely that was worth something. In reply to Mr Danby the secretary' said that it was too late to forward a remit from the board. On the. amendment being put it was declared lost, and the resolution was carried on the. showing of hands, the voting being ’four to three.