GROUP DOMINATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26621, 18 November 1947, Page 6

GROUP DOMINATION

CONTROL OF HOSPITALS POLITICAL ANGLE DEPRECATED “One of the questionable blessings of social security is that it allows a group of practitioners to flourish with the minimum degrees permissible for practice in New Zealand,” said Dr A. S. Moody> a Citizens’ ticket candidate for election to the Hospital Board, at the Concert Chamber last evening. “ The Citizens’ Association nominees have all had experience overseas, which is more than can be said about the group of practitioners who want to dominate the. Hospital Board at these coming elections. “To my mind,” said Dr Moody, “ there is no place for colour, creed, race or politics in a hospital board, and I strongly deprecate the manner in which the health of the community has been subordinated to politics.” Dr Moody referred to a Labour Party advertisement headed “ Doctors and Hospital Ownership,” and featuring a picture of the Marinoto home. “It is a wonder it has not got.a portrait of Dr McMillan superimposed on it,” he said. “I see they ask'in"the advertisement whether - the Hospital Board would have decided to build the maternity hospital at Marinoto if. its policy had been controlled by doctors who owned private maternity homes. I take it that remark refers to me. Well, I make no bones about it—l have an interest in a private hospital. The only reason why none of the Labour eghdidates is similarly interested is because they are not game enough to -back themselves. I don’t think the group who want to run the existing hospital have; enough in them to run any decent institution.” (Extended report by arrangement.)