AN AUTOCRATIC MINISTER

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 16 June 1919, Page 3

AN AUTOCRATIC MINISTER

HON. BUSSELL AND PALMERSTON HOSPITAL BOARD. TROUBLE OVER DOCTOR’3 RESIDENCE.

I What- was described as the “dog-in- ■ thc-manger” attitude of the Minister of Public Health in connection with tho proposal to erect a doctor’s residence at the hospital came in for sharp criticism at last Thursday’s meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, when a report was received from Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., relative to his interview with tho Minister on the subject. Mr Nash stated that ids interview was very unsatisfactory. He had asked the Minister for a subsidy towards the. projected building, and in reply the Minister had categorically refused to make any grant until the Board met him with regard to another matter which he (Mr Russell) had approached them. The Board had absolutely refused to do as he had asked regarding this other matter, which he (the -Minister) did not name, and he would have nothing whatever to do with the question of a subsidy until they “came lo heel.”

In reply to Sir James Wilson, Mr j Nash said lie gathered the Minister re- j ferrotl to the Board's dispute with him over the site of the proposed maternity ] home. The Board wanted the home built on the hospital grounds, but the Minister insisted that it should lie established away from the hospital and 1 in the town on the site under offer to j the Board. Mr Nash added that he , had pointed out to the Minister the l urgency of the matter, telling him ttyat unless something was done shortly to i provide the resident doctor with a rosi- i deuce they would lose the services of Jlr. Forest. Dr. Forest was doing very ■ excellent work and the Board desired ' to retain his services. At present the distance between his house and the hos- i pital was too great, and the doctor j could not put up with the inconvenience j caused any longer. The effect of the j Minister’s decision was that if the ; Board wanted a doctor’s residence it i would have to provide the same by way ! of levy on the contributing bodies. Mr Nash thought that the attitude of the J Minister was both illogical and unfair. Obviously the Board were entitled to a 1 subsidy and the Minister had no right i to adopt such an extremely autocratic | ! attitude and attempt to force their i hands with regard to the maternity | home, which was altogether extraneous ) to the question under review. The . Minister had concluded the interview 1 by stating that the Board would re- \ eeive a reply in due course through the j departmental officer. Ur. Whitaker characterised the Ministcr’s attitude a? perfectly astonish- i ing for a responsible Minister of the i Crown to adopt. He was deliberately j tryiug to force the Board into making | a bargain with him. In effect he had 1 stated that the mothers of Palmerston 1 North would have to do without the , badly-needed maternity home until ! such time as the Board consented to 1 bargain with him and place the institu- ' ition on a spot in the town which they : knew to be unsuitable. Mr Hornblow also expressed much indignation at the Minister’s “dog-in-the-manger policy,” and he spoke very feelingly on the matter. Mrs Giil defended the attitude or the Minister with regard to his insistence on having the maternity home away from the hospital. The Minister 'had offered the Board £SOOO for the purpose and they already had a piece of property under offer to them which the women of the town were satisfied was suitable for the purpose.. Yet the Board refused to meet the Minister in the matter, well knowing that if would be a long time before, it would be in a position to erect a maternity home on the hospital grounds, even if the opportunity occurred. It was the Board and not tiie Minister who was depriving the women of the town of this very neces-

sarv institution.

Mr Hornblow then moved a very lengthy motion criticising the Minister which the Board treated as being in committee. j Subsequentlyfefr Hornblow withdrew his motion on it being pointed.out that it would be wiser to wait till the Minister’s written reply to Mr Nadi’s representations was received through the departmental officers. This reply, it was pointed out, might be so worded as to place a different construction on fhe matter.

Mr Nash then went on to point oat that he had had a look the other day at the old nurses ’ home. A portion of this building seemed to be Ie really good order, and it might be possible to

utilise piortion of tliis in connection •with the erection of a wooden building for a doctor’s residence. The cost should not exceed £IOOO, and the Board • could, construct this independent of any ; subsidy. He accordingly moved that * the Building Committee be asked to rc- ! port, at the next meeting on the i'easi- : bility. of this scheme. j The motion was carried.