The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY MARCH 5, 1910. THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2752, 5 March 1910, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY MARCH 5, 1910. THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

There are gratifying indications that the local public is evincing considerable interest in the elections that are to take place shortly for the Hospital Board. Tt is to be sincerely hoped that the first body elected under the new method will justify the democratic principle upon which it is founded. Under the old system it usually happened that the local bodies interested from the best of their number their representatives on the Hospital Trustees, so that, generally speaking, these important public institutions were usually in good! hands. At the same time when any abuses did exist it was exceedingly difficult for an aggrieved public to bring about a change, for indirect representation is always more or less sluggish in obeying popular mandate. Under the new Act this disadvantage is removed, and the members of tbe Hospital Board are directly responsible to the people for their actions. It is to be hoped, however, that the public will not now go to the other extreme, and, in place of conservative ultra-cautious men, place in power members of the demagogue type. We do not want the Hospital Board brought to the level of some of our minor public bodies, and made a stepping-stone for people with political or other ambitions, or a. medium for those who aspire to public po. sitions for the sake of tho notoriety it gives or the influence it can command. In the case of Gisborne we should like to see a sprinkling of tho old bands returned, for, on the whole, it must bo conceded that they have done excellent work, and it would be a distinct disadvantage, if not an actual menace, to the ‘community were their experience in past administration to be entirely lost. For the rest we hope to see the electors choose as their representatives men of high standing and of acknowledged ability and integrity, so that in the future the control of hospital matters will be such as to reflect credit on the district. It must not be forgotten that there is- scarcely any branch of public service which necessitates such careful and delicate iiandling as docs the management of hospitals. - They deal with tbe most vital interests of the community, coming into touch with individual members- of homes at a critical time, when every circumlstanoo is the object of sensitive watchfulness on the part of patients’ relatives. Then again tbe officials are members of one of tlic highest and noblest professions in the land, and it would be a thousand pities were tlie doctors and nurses of a hospital to bo subjected to the vacillating and paltry control of ,a

weak committee. We have no fear that such will bo the case locally, but deem it wise to direct attention, to a possible danger that must be guarded) against. Already there are included in the list' of intending candidates the names of men whose qualifications are quite sufficient to justify their election. And-there are others. Before the nomin_ at ion day closes there will probably be additional candidates put forward, and when polling day comes round.' we hope to find that a committee will be chosen that will completely justify the action of the Government .in granting a more democratic control of hospital affairs.