RESOLUTION WITHHELD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5190, 12 October 1927, Page 3

RESOLUTION WITHHELD.

HOSPITAL BOARD INCIDENT.

CHAIRMAN’S ACTION CRITICISED.

Prior to the regular meeting of the Thames Hospital Board on Monday the members met in committee to discuss certain matters affecting t)he administration . Arising from the

committee meeting a. report was pre-

pared, and it was later read by the r secretary at the regular meeting, standing orders being suspended and the meeting going into commitee for the purpose. On resuming in open meeting, the recommendation contained in the'report was adopted without being read again. There were representatives of three, newspapers present, and as they were excluded from the meeting held in committee in the- morning, and again were unable to report the discussion on the resolution taken in committee at the regular meeting, as soon a® thq resolution was- passed they applied for a. copy of it. The request met with an emphatic “no” from the chairman (Mr W. E. Hale). This unusual attitude caused Mr C. W. Kennedy to rise and point out to , the chairman that as thei recommendation had been approved in open meeting the Press was entitled to the information. The chairman-replied that Mr Kennedy was right to a certain extent, but he wished to point out that it would only cause difficulties to arise if the matter was made public before Ah o sanction of the department to fgive effect to the recommendation was obtained. The opinion was expressed by Mr E. L. Walton that the chairman would either have to rescind the resolution carried in open meeting or else hand it to t'he Press to make public. By adopting that attitude the chairman would only lay the board open, to more severe criticism than otherwise. So far as he could see there was f nothing to conceal. Mr Kennedy remarked that in all probability the matter would very soon become public property. The chairman replied that he hoped it would not, and if the Press was not given the resolution, then the Press could not be blamed if anything leaked out. It was agreed by Mr J. W. Danby that as soon as the resolution was adopted in open meeting the Press was entitled to receive thei information. However, the chairman remained » adamant and the discussion was dropped.