HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6028, 10 January 1885, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

A special meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Charitable Aid Office yesterday afternoon. There were present — Mr H. Thomson (Chairman), tne Mayors of Christchurch and Sydenham (Messrs Hulbertand White, jun.). Drs. Prins and Turnbull, Hon. E. C. J. fctevens, and Mr Hawkes. The Chairman stated that the meeting had been called to consider a report from the Staff upon the matter referred to them, namely, the letter of Dr. NedwilL The purport of the report was as follows:—The Secretary stated that the Chairman of the Hospital Board had requested him to state that he (the Chairman) had received a letter from Dr Nedwill, stating that he had seen in the papers that an inquiry was to be held by the stsff, in conjunction with Dr. Turnbull and Dr. Prins, that he protested against the Staff holding the inquit y, and that be should refuse to attend, and also that he should demand an inquiry by the Board. It was accordingly resolved that the Secretary be instructed to inform the Chairman that this meeting deems it impossible to conduct the inquiry in consequence of Dr. Ned will's refusal to attend, and that they think it desirable that a special meeting of the Hospital Board should be convened at an early date. He (the Chairman) had received a letter from Dr. Nedwill, a copy of which bad been placed in members'hands, and it was in consequence of that letter that the staff deemed it impossible to conduct an inquiry. It remained with the Board to say whether it would hold an inquiry. The letter to the Chairman from Dr. Nedwill was read as follows: — . " Sir, —I have th»» honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Secretary to your poard to inform mc that my resignation on the Hospital staff has been accepted, and to request mc "to act for the present." In reply I have to state that I shall be glad to comply with the wishes of the Board. 1 see from the reports in the papers of the meeting of the Board that with reference to my letter of the 24th of December last, it was resolved that the Staff be requested to enquire with Drs. Prins and Turnbull into the whole matter, to report to the Board at an early opportunity/ Further on in the report I see it stated 'that the enquiry would be private, but the report would of course be public* I most respectfully proteetagainst the enquiry being conducted in such a way and before such a tribunal, and I shall feel it to be my duty to refuse to attend it for the following reasons:—'The staff were unanimous in rejecting my proposal to refer the matter to the Board.' Dr Turnbull while expressing c his approval ot the action of the staff,* grossly misrepresented mc in stating that I 'assisted at the operation,* while it is well known that Mr Prins has always acted most unfriendly towards mc in the performance of my public duties. It has been stated by members of your Board that I. have not sought an enquiry. I have imagimd, from the tenor of my letter, that no public Board receiving such a communication as mine could possibly avoid holding a public and exhaustive enquiry. The Board itself should hold such enquiry, and I most respectfully demand it." The Matob or Sydenham: would adhere to his previously expressed opinion, and if it were competent for him to do so, he would move the motion which was lost at a Erevious meeting—" That an enquiry be eld by the Board into the allegations contained in Dr. Ned will's lttter of resignation."

The Matob ov Cuhistchxtbch supported this, and if in order, he would second it. He thought the Board should comply with the wishes of Drs. Nedwill and Stewart, and bold a public enquiry. The Chaibmax doubted whether, being unprofessional men, they could deal with professional matters. Dr. Ttjbnbdu, adduced several reasons for having the inquiry publicly conducted by Dr. Grabham, one of which was that Dr. Nedwill objected to be tried before such a tribunal as the staff. He moved — "That the Government be asked to allow Dr. Grabham to make such investigation as he may deem sumcient;" and "That, from Dr. Nedwill'B increased antagonism to ourselves sad staff, the Board fears the comfort of the patients may be interfered with, and it therefore asks Dr. Nedwill to withdraw from his temporary position as Visiting Surgeon." The first motion of the Dootor's was seconded by Mr Hawxbs and taken as an

amendment to the motion of the Mayor of Sydenham. The Hon. E. C. J. Stevens remarked that there was little to be said against so independent a man as Dr. Grabnam conducting the inquiry; but, still, he could not agree with the opinions expressed by Dr Turnbull. There were no questions in tbe matter which could not, to his mind, be settled by laymen The Board was capable of deciding whether its rules bad been violated. The Matob of Chribtchubch was surprised at the motion moved by a professional member. They would appear to be saying that they were not as capable of y liding the Board as Dr. Nedwill. He was opinion that the reason medical men were placed on the Board was to assist the laymen with their medical knowledge. But if the professional gentlemen were capable, then there was no necessity of calling in additional medical men. Dr. Ttjbnbdll thought the Mayor of Christchurch had placed the medical men of the Board in a very unpleasant position. The Mayor took it that Dr. Prins and himself (the speaker) should guide the Board. Tbe question was, would the Board be guided by them. He thought Dr. Grabham was the better person to conduct the inquiry. Dr. Prins considered the Board thoroughly competent to conduct the inquiry, and, taking all the circumstances into consideration, it was really a question as to whether Dr. Turnbull was right. Dr. Turnbull assured the Board of acting impartially if the inquiry were held, and The Matob of Christchubch thought that was one reason why the Board should hold it. The Chaibman was of opinion that Dr. Grabham should conduct the enquiry. The Mayor of Christchurch said it appeared to him that Dr. Nedwill objected to a private enquiry. Dr. Turnbull's amendment was put and lost, the Chairman refraining from voting. Mr Ick then moved as a further amendment—" That the staff, with the assistance of Drs. Prin3 and Tumbull, hold a public enquiry." This was not seconded, and after some discussion was withdrawn. The resolution was carried, and also another making the enquiry a public one. The first meeting will take place at the City Council Chambers on Tuesday evening next, at 7.30 p.m. The Secretary was instructed to ask Government for authority to call and swear witnesses, and engage the services of a shorthand reporter. Dr. Turnbull, after some persuasion, withdrew his second motion.

The proceedings then terminated,