HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3999, 4 August 1915, Page 6

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

A P P OINTME NT OF A NEW BOROUGH EERR KEENTATI.VE. SHOULD A LADY SIT IN HIGH PLACES ? BOROUGH COUNCIL HOTLY DISCUSSES THE MATTER. MRS H. J. WALKKR APPOINTED. The appointment of a member to represent the Borough Council mi the Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, in succession to Dr W. P. Porter, gave rise to a lively discussion at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. All- H. M. Porter, secretary of the Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote, stating that Dr \V. P Porter, one of the Borough representatives on the Board, having resigned his office, ft devolved upon the Council to appoint a successor to hold office for his unoxpired term. Cr Miller; As Mrs Walker was next highest on the list, I move that she be appointed. * Cr Hill seconded the motion, stating that in doing so lie felt he was voicing public opinion. From his point of view, if the Council selected him, lie would decline the appointment. Considering the fact that many Hospital Boards had appointed ladies, he did not sec ■why Gisborno should feel disinclined to follow suit. There were many little Ways in -which, a lady could be of great service to the Hospital Board, Cr Collins asked if the Town Clerk could tell him how many there were cm the roll. The Mayor said that there were about- 4000 on the roll. Cr Collins: And about half of these voted. Or Bright said that while lie had tli(> highest opinion of Airs 'Walker, lie felt- that men served on public bodies with better effect than did ladies. His opinion was that they should preserve the Board as it was when Dr Porter resigned. Ho proposed that Cr Alunus, as a representative of the friendly societies, he appointed the Council’s representative on the Hospital Board. Cr Alunus declined nomination. Cr Lawless supported Airs Walker’s nomination. He said that Airs AYalker had stood on the ticket of no further increase in the hospital lees, and the public had endorsed this ticket. It was no now thing to have ladies on Hospital Boards. They had them in Wellington, and they liad them in Auckland. Airs Walker was a woman of large experience, and could do a lot for women patients at the Hospital. Cr Collins asked what general experience Airs Walker had had. Cr Lawless said that the lady had been a member of the Gisborne School Committee and was conversant with the conduct of meetings. The Mayer -considered they should appoint a member of the Borough Council. Cr "Wildish said he had been associated with All's Walker on the Gisborne‘School Committee for the past five years, .and he could assure them that' the lady was just as capable of falling the position as any gentleman on the Council. She was a lady who put her whole soul into her work. It was not so long back that the Council liad sent a remit down to AA ellington. affirming the principle that vacancies should be filled by the person who polk'd the next highest- number of votes at the poll, and this a strong argument in favor of Airs Walker getting the appointment. Cr AATitle favored the appointment of a moniher of the Council. J he Hospital was on institution which belonged to the ratepayers, and should be governed by representatives of the public. Friondlv Societies were al 1 right in their place, but In* did not sec why they should he allowed to dominate. He would like to see appointed Cr. Brown, whose engineering knowledge would be of great service to tile Board, seeing that they were going in for new steam boilers there. Cr Collins said that while lie had no objection to Airs \A alker being appointed, lie held that such appointments should not be made in a haphazard way. AYlien the Government laid down' the principle that- public bodies like the Hospital Board should bo- composed of a certain number of the representatives of the bodies supplying the funds, it was expected that iinv vacancies which occurred should he "filled by members of the bodies. These members wore expected to represent the body to which they belonged, and bo able to report- on all that was being done. If they appointed Airs AYalker, they would not ho able to get a report- from her, except- through a member of the Council He pointed out that Cr Brown had represented the Council on the Hospital Board since 1912 until defeated at- the last poll. He moved, as an" amendment, that the miostion of the appointment- he left over until there was a full meeting of the Council. Or Bright said that, as Cr Brown had taken a great interest in hospital •matters, out of courtesy to that gentleman, he would second the amendment until Cr Brown could attend. Cr Collins’ amendment was then put and lost by 5 votes to 4, Crs Miller, Hill, Alunns, Wildish, ami Lawless voting against it, and the Mayor and. Crs. Collins, Bright, and Wade for it. Cr Collins then moved that the Afayor he appointed the Council's representative on the Hospital Board. Cr Collins: AA’ill you accept nomination, Your Worship ? The Afayor: Yes, I will. Or AVade seconded the motion. Cr Wildish, Alunns, and Hill said that, though they were sorrv to oppose the Afayor, they must turn him down. Cr Alunns said this was only a clever dodge on Cr Collins’ part. He was clover at that sort of thing. Nominations, had been called for, and none were forthcoming. Cr Bright said it would be a mistake for the nomination', to go forward. It might give a wrong impression it the Afayor was turned down bv the Council, each member of whom had the highest respect for His Worship. Cr Collins said that ho was sorry to have placed the Mayor in such a position, but he had done so in order to see for what reason it was desired that a. lady should he placed on the Hospital Board. When Councillors were prepared to turn down His Worship because they were prepared to support a ticket was lamentable. ’They wanted strong men on their public bodies. They were laying down the principle that all vacancies must be filled by the next highest on the poll. Cr Alunns: The principle was laid down months ago. Cr Collins said that it was clear that the in-fine nee of the Friendly Societies was dictating the appointments. Crs Wildish, H j 11. Alunns, and Miller hotly resen tori this-. Cr Collins said it was all very fine for them to talk platitudes, and cover themselves with the white cloak of hypocrisy. 1 Cr Munns: How long are ‘ we to stand this, A T our Worship? Cr' Collins: Cr Mumis doesn’t like it. Cr Munns: It only shows how much Dr Collins knows about it. Your AVorsliip. Airs Walker was nominated by the Labor Party. Cr Collins: Yes, and did not the Labor 'Party and 'Friendly .Societies combine on the same ticket ? Another reference to the .word “hypocrite” from Dr Collins brought Cr Munns to his feet. “Your Worship, T demand that Cr { Collins.bo compelled to withdraw that term. Dr Collins : I ain only referring to you in a.general sense. Cr Alunns You balled mo a hypocrite, and I demand that you withdraw the term. Cr Collins: You are mistaken. Cr Munns: I am not mistaken; you used the term several times. Cr Atiller: You did use the term, .: - . / - •’ V . ... . V-C ■

Cr Collins. You said Cr Munns was a hypocrite, and he knew it. After further discussion, Cr Collins withdrew his amendment. Cr Afiller’s motion to appoint Afrs AYalker was then put and carried, Crs Miller, Hill, Lawless, Munns, and AATldish voting for it, and the Afayor and Crs Bright, Wade, and Collins against. 'Subsequently Cr Collins gave notice of motion as under : “I shall move at the next meeting of the Borough Council that the resolution appointing Mrs AYalker to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board as a representative of the •Borough Council shall be rescinded.”