HOSPITAL BOARDS CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3003, 25 February 1926, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARDS CONFERENCE.

Dunedin, Last Night

At the Hospital Boards' Conference to-day, considerable discussion was caused by Sir Lindo Ferguson, during the course of an address on hospital staffing, that no body of men in the world was more incompetent to judge the capabilities of a medical practitioner than laymen who sat on hospital boards. He considered that medical men were the only ones capable of doing so.

Most of the medical profession did not want honorariums, but would willingly tender their services to such as could not afford to pay for them. Those who could pay for hospital maintenance should be made to do so. He did not wish to see the profession exploited, Mr. W. Wallace (Auckland), president of the conference, deeply resented these remarks, which he characterised as a grave indictment against hospital boards and the British Medical Association.

Mr. J. K. ITornblow (Palmerston North) said the Palmerston North Board did not appoint doctors to staff appointments, which were made through a board of medical practitioners.

Sir Lindo Ferguson said he was glad to hear Palmerston North was so enlightened. He did not know it before, but thought no other board in New Zealand did so. This was contradicted from several quarters. Mr V. 11. Potter (Auckland) : l think, sir, you should have found that, out before coming here, and 1 for one strongly resent such criticism.