DR PAGET'S CRITICISM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 45, 2 June 1910, Page 3

DR PAGET'S CRITICISM

HOSPITAL BOARD NOT TO BE TRUSTED. THE MEMBERS PROTEST. Stratford rather expected a "scene" at yesterday's Hospital Board meeting as the result of some remarks .made by the medical superintendent of the hospital in | his capacity as Borough Councillor a, little over a week ago. During the pro- j gress' 'of the meeting, Dr. Faget was] telephoned for, but during his interview with the Board -no member touched, upon the subject, a fact which was commented upon' by the chairman when the subject came up at a later stage. The meeting was drawing to a close. There was an air of constraint. The chairman asked two or three times if any of the members had any further business to bring forward, "'anything- up the sleeve?' Cr. Maxwell broke the awkward silence, saying he felt die must draw the attention of the Board to a statement made by Dr. Paget at a Borough Council meeting, that the Hospital Board was quite unfit to be trusted with the expenditure of large sums of money. Mr. Maxwell took this as an insult to the Board, individually as well as collectively. He had waited .patiently to see what action the chairman would take in this matter, if any. He did not know if the other members held the Same opinion hs himself, but he felt that the Board should take notice of the matter and make it quite clear that they were neither as dishonest or as grossly incompetent as Dr. Paget would make them out to be. He, at any rate, was | going to make his own position quite clear. If he took no notice of the remark it would amount to a tacit admission that he was a thief, or a 'grossly incompetent person. Mr. Kennedy rose to continue the subject when the chairman pointed out fhgt there was no motion before the Board "What is it you are heading for?" he asked. He considered that the time the remarks were reported there had been an opportunity of replying, and again during the morning, when Dr. Paget ha! been present. (Members: No, no.) The chairman contended that that had been the members' opportunity. If the members' wished to take a resolution on the subject, he was entirely in their hands, but he didn't quite understand what they were heading for. Mr. Maxwell had made a personal disclaimer of dishonesty and incompetence as far as he was concerned. Was it proposed that each; member should get up and follow his example? Mr. Kennedy moved "that in the opinion of this Board the remarks made b.y the medical superintendent at the Borough Council meetirtg, as' reported 171 the Stratford Post, were unjust and uncalled for." Mr. Kennedy read the report of the discussion at the Council meeting, and Dr. Paget's words: "He did not consider the Hospital Board, could be trusted with the expenditure of; large sums of money." There were on the Board men who had served their | apprenticeship on local bodies, and had I been trusted on public bodies for as) many years as Dr. Paget had been acting in his profession. Their chairman was the chairman of the Stratford County Council, and a man who had had very lengthy experience. They had also a member of the Borough Council and a member of the Whangamomona County Council; in fact, there were only Messrs. Cameron and himself who were not members of bodies elected by the ratepayers, and he claimed to be representative. too, as' a member of the Education Board. He felt he could not let the statement pass unnoticed. Mr. Maxwell seconded. Mr. Ward said that he had been present, when Dr. Papet made the remarks quoted', and he bid treated them as the utterance of a disappointed man. Of course, their medical officer was entitled to his own opinion as a Borough Councillor upon the subject of delegating any of the Council's powers to the Board, nnd he was' of the same opinion, that Council would be unwise, to do so. '?i't when he said the Board was totally incompetent, then he spoke as a disappointed man disappointed because of the defeat of the late Chairman at the recent election. The Chairman: Don't add fuel to the fire. Mr. Ward. Mr. Ward continued that the public had confidence in the Board, and if the present Board went on as they were go-1 ing he had little doubt that next. March the public would recognise that this was a 20011 Board, and re-elect them. The motion was carried, none dissenting.