DISPUTE AT HOSPITAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 980, 24 May 1930, Page 6

DISPUTE AT HOSPITAL

DOCTORS THREATEN TO RESIGN BOARD STANDS FIRM Press Association WANGANUI, Friday. Tho trouble between the Wanganui Hospital Board and three Taihape doctors who recently tendered their resignations following a dispute with the matron of the Taihape Public Hospital, reached a further stage, when the board received a letter from the doctors concerned withdrawing their resignations on certain conditions which were unacceptable to the board, which decided to adhere to its original decision. At the meeting of the board last month the resigntaions of Drs. Sinclair, McDiarmid and Hay were received. They stated that they would resign if the present matron at the hospital did not resign. The doctors were asked to reconsider their decision, and were told that the board could find no fault with the matron. A letter was received by the board from the three doctors, stating that as they recognised the difficult position fin which the board would find itself at Taihape they would withdraw their resignations if certain irrelevant and scurrilous expressions made by two members of the board, Messrs. Aldridge and Battle, were withdrawn in open board. “UN - BRITISH”

“I maintain that the action of two of these doctors in saying they would resign if the matron did not was unBritish and unmanly. Dr. McDiarmid did not send his resigation under that condition,” said Mr. Battle. “Let us stick to our point,” said Mr. Broderick. Mr. Aldridge paid a tribute to the matron’s efficiency, and said he had nothing to apologise for. Mr. Rogers moved that the letter be received, but that the board could not see its way clear to agree to the terms laid down by the doctors in connection with their proposed resignations, in that Messrs. Battle and Aldridge should not be asked to apologise. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Rogers: Can we permit this intolerable position to continue? Surely we can insist that the doctors accord the matron that courtesy which befits the dignity of her position. The Chairman: The doctors will be informed of the board’s desires in the matter. Presumably the next move will be the resignation of the doctors. In that event a special meeting of the board can be . held to consider the matter.