HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3796, 24 May 1928, Page 2

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

CR. ELIOTT’S CHARGES

STATEMENT BY BOARD CHAIRMAN.

With regard to the decision of the Palmerston North Borough Council to ask the Government to appoint a commission to investigate matters ill connection with the proposed expenditure of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, which Councillor M. A. Eliott, who moved the resolution, considered to be worthy of complete investigation, in that several members of the honorary staff at the hospital had stated to him that the expenditure was unnecessary and wasteful, the chairman of the Hospital Board, Sir James Wilson, has issued the following statement: —

“Arising out of comments by 'Councillor hi. A,. Eliott at a meeting of the Borough Council on Monday night at its meeting of the executive committee the Hospital Board interviewed those members of the honorary staff who were available —Doctors Putnam, Forrest, Durward and Miller. “All present emphatically denied the statements which Councillor Eliott alleged had been made by the honorary staff regarding the new buildings. It was stated that Councillor Eliott had no authority from any member of the honorary staff to make any statement whatever concerning the Board’s building policy. “Dr. Wylie, who also was unable to be present at the meeting, stated to the chairman that he considered Councillor Eliott’s remarks were quite unjustified and uncalled for, and that the honorary staff as a body had had no communication with Councillor Eliott. The latter gentleman ought to be prepared to give the names of the four or five members of the staff he refers to. Personally, Dr. Wylie had not had any communication with Councillor Eliott, did not agree with Councillor Eliott’s opinion, and Avas of the opinion that the proposed expenditure was necessary.

“In view of the foregoing,” concludes the statement, “Councillor Eliott’s assurance given to Councillor Fitzherbert that the honorary staff were prepared to back up his statements can be left to the public for them to judge it on its merits, and as the Borough Council apparently adopted Councillor Eliott’s resolution on his assurance in this matter, it would seem that the Council has been misled.”