OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 244, 9 October 1939, Page 2

OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

LIVELY MEETING QUESTIONS BY MR. BAIGENT OLA IAT FOR, JUSTICE AND FALK PLAY AIEAJBERS' LEAVE TABLE Tlie monthly meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board was held in the Labour Social Room on JTriclav afternoon. Present: MJbssrs. >S. -Maxwell (chairman), G. J". Neilson, S. Slialfooii,' E. J." Baigent, G. S. Moody. J. D. Clark, (J. D. Brown and Air. J... A. Henry (secretary). The minutes of the previous monthly meeting and of a special, committee meeting were confirmed. Recommendations that the Board accept the offer of the Government to receive £IOO from the hoard ns an annual payment, towards the cost of tlio Te Kalia district nurse, without further obligation on the part of tlie hoard ; and that the hoard endeavour to, arrange the lease with right of purchase, of approximately four acres, of land (with dwelling) adjoining the Opotiki Hospital farm. The secretary was instructed to write and endeavour to arrange the- lease. Outward correspondence was read and approved. The monthly statement showed that the board was £5Bl 2s Sd in creditAt a later stage in the meeting Mr. Brown asked the secretary if there had not been an error in typing but the secretary assured the questioner that the amount in credit- was quite correct.

The chairman in referring to local residents receiving treatment- in other hospitals, said it was not generally known that, the board, through its officers, should be notified! beforehand of any such, intention. X-ray.—The., secretary reported that the X-ray plant had been put in proper order. Representative.—The chairman was appointed as the board’s representative on the Opotiki War Vigilance Committee. Welcome to Superintendent.—The chairman welcomed the new medical superintendent, Dr. Clifford Jame s and introduced! those present- to the superintendent. Dr, James, in replythanked members for their welcome and) said that he hoped his stay in. Opotiki - would be. a happy one. Reconsidered the position of the Opotiki hospital was a very good one. Letter Causes Lively Discussion. In reply to, the hoard’s request, a letter was received from the Department, in which Dr. Shore, who paid two visits of inquiry to the Opotiki hospital, stated that he had recommended to the chairman of the Opotiki Board that both the superintendent and matron should be dismissed. Air. Baigent--contended that the recommendation was a very strong one to make without evidence. In reply to a question the chairman said Dr. Shore gave him no evidence. Mr. Aloody expressed the opinion that in justice to Dr. Alail the position did not seem very satisfactory. ’The chairman: You sec, gentlemen, the letter corroborates" ■ what- T. .told tho boai’dl. In defending Dr. Shore’s action, Air. Brown-pointed out that Dr. Shore was familiar with the position from all angles. Al.r. Baigent (to the chairman): The position is that people have lost confidence in the beard and I’ve lost-con-fidence in you. There was a stormy period at this stage when Air. Baigent" asked if he could -put- %a, question. At first- the chairman objected and at times a bout-half-a-dozen members were talking at the same time. A proposal was put forward that the board should go on with the other business but Alt. Baigent was persistent that lie sheuldi have the right te put his questions. - Air. Shalloon strongly objected te the whole trouble being brought up again at the board meetings. Air. Baigent: It is a question of British justice and fair play. .1 demand the right- to speak. - Air. Baigent then put- the following/ questions:— * 1. What evidence clid Dr. Shore give the chairman in support of his. recommendation to dismiss Dr. Alaif and the matron ? 2. Is certain evidence being withheld from some members of the board as certain professional and) businessmeu have told me that the chairman ' ’Ey/ and certain members of the board possess evidence ef a series nature against Dr. Mail:' Is there any truth in this statement ? If so. whv are not att

members oi' the board made aware of tliis evidence? 3. Why did Mr. Neilson withhold a vital letter l'roin the board until such time as it changed the whole attitude of the board in dealing with the recent-trouble?

Mr. IJaigent’s question immediately aroused strong opposition from the chairman and Mr. Neilson in particular. A wordty argument followed and Mr. Neilson accused Mr. 13aigent of using bad language. Mr. Neilson said lie strongly objected to Mr, B’aigent’s question concerning himself and said that he had always been fair and open and did not withhold the letter. Mr. M oody then- rose andi said that lie didn’t like to see members, losing their tempers in any way. . If there liaxl been any wrong it was up- to the hoard to right it. in his opinion there was nothing in the correspondence to warrant Dr. Mail’s dismissal.

Mi - . Shalloon again rose and strongly: voiced his objection to the trouble being gone over again.

-Mr. Ilkiigeht said that lie had every right to deal with it and that what they wanted was to have the people’s confidence in the board.

* Mr. Slialfopu demanded that the meeting go on with the ordinary business and as a. protest left the board table to be immediately; followed by -Mr. Neilson. A' Both stated their intention of taking no further part in the quarrel, Mr. Clark asked he chairman if lie had taken, action only at Dr. Shore’s request and without any evidence*.;. - ,

Tlie Chairman : 'Pm, going; to rule'the matter be definitely dropped. "* Mr. Brown said . that Dr. Shaw’s statement backed tip the board’s action- in dismissing - the superintendent and matron. Had the matron not been dismissed the superintendent would not have been dismissed. '

Mr. Clark suggested that'everything had apparently been cut and dried before when the dismissals took place and again asked lor evidence in support of the' dismissal of the stiperintendlent. ' The chairman said that he was going to put the motion that the board go on with other business. ' '' \ > Mr. Baigent said that Messrs. Shalloon and Neilson could not vote as they had left the meeting, but Mr. Shalfoou pointed out that they had not left the room. On resuming his’seat Mr. Shalfoou said that school kids would act better than the members. -The chairman then put the motion that the meeting go on with other business, the chairman, Messrs. .Weilson, Slialfoon and Brown voting for the motion and Messrs, dark, Baigent and Moody against. • ' ' OTHER. BUSINESS \ Dr. A. J. Brass • .wrote forwarding his resignation as visiting medical of-} ficer.—Received. Tenders. —Various tenders were received by the board. Mr. G. B. Guthrie’s tender for bread and that of Mr. F. Young for meat, were accepted, it was decided to give the grocery orders to six shops in turn, as it con-

sidered that, under -the present conditions it would be -.impossible to iix tender prices. ,

Reports.—J'he reports from the acting, medical superintendent and acting matron were approved. Mr. Shalfoou pointed out that there was no report --from either ,the " nurse at To Kaiia or the .Opotiki nurse. The secretary stated that he received reports and these could be. inspected at any time by the board members. Missing Letters.—Mr. Clark asked! if certain letters bad yet been received from Mr. J. T. Merry. He stated that the matter had been overlooked ( at the previous meeting. Mr. Henry said he had seen Mr. Merry*about the letters and Mr. Merry had stated that he was under, the impression that, the Jeters had been destroyed but said that lie would look for them. Mr. Merry bad since - stated that ha luid been unable to come across them.

Accounts.—'Accounts /totalling £503 were passed for payment. Mcmorfnl.—Mr, ’Moody stated that, he had j&fore the board. He had tried many years ago to liavd some sort of memorial erected to the late J. C. Arthur. During a recent visit of representatives of the Blind Institute lie had discussed tho matter with them and they were quite agreeable to spend .something on a suggested .memorial plate. He (the speaker) thought a suitable place for a brass tablet would be the Opotiki Hospital. Mr. Moody stated that he had been one of the signatories to the will and had been instrumental in getting the estate mad)*''over to the Hospital Board and the Blind institute. Members of the board warmly supported Mr. Moody’s suggestion and it was resolved to take steps to secure a. \ # , P suitable memorial tablet. Medical Officer.—The board decided to advertise for the position of -visiting medical officer. ...... Harness Wanted. —A request was received from the nurses for some .new harness, it being stated that it was intended to .reduce the cost of taxi faffes.— Members said that the old horse wa.s still at the hospital farm, ,but thought that it would be better if the nurses had ' another horse for any new harness.