COMMITTEE BUSINESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 14 August 1913, Page 4

COMMITTEE BUSINESS.

The Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board is a public body, elected" by the people, and administering the people's money. Its members deserve the thanks of the community for the time and energy they devote to .the public interests. But the Board should remember that in matters of policy, or of reorganisation, the public has a right to know how the business is bjeing conducted. Tfye Board went into committee yesterday to deal with the question ments to the Greytown Hospital. It is quite clear that of the Board was being traversed, and we maintain, with'due respect to the Board; that-such a matter should have been dealt wPth in public. We quite recognise that there are occasions when, in the interests of the public and the Board, it is not desirable that the business shouljl be" given publicity. But these occasions are rare indeed. In matters of policy, as affecting the general administration of the Board, it is eminently desirable that the deliberations should bo given the fullest publicity. It is only, by such means that the confidence of the public can be retained. If the Board chooses to go into committee on matters affecting its policy, it will only have itself to blame if its actions are viewed with suspicion, and erroneous reports get into circulation.