A HOSPITAL DISPUTE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 968, 13 June 1883, Page 2

A HOSPITAL DISPUTE.

[BY TELEOKAPH.] Timaku, Yesterday. An unfor. unate disagreement has arisen between Mr Turnbull, M.H. K. for Timaru, and the Hospital authorities. For the past twelve years or so Mr Turnbull has been in the habit of visiting the Hospital on Sunday mornings, conducting a sort of religious service in the male ward, distributing papers, &c., among inmates, and doing kindly offices for them. Two Sundays ago ha noticed that an old inmate, a feeble and somewhat imbecile old man, had a black eye, and he made enquiry

about it, anil satisfied with the Reaident-Su'jrpeon’s explanation that it was Sue to! an accident, called on the Commissioners to hold a formal enquiry, and they did so, and the evidence taken went to show that the injury resulted from an accident, and Dr Drew, Resilient*'Surge n, incensed, perhaps, that his explanation was ignored, and, in fact, flatly .repudiated by r Mr Turnbull, made a counter complaint that Mr Turnbull conducted the, English service in the ward where members of all denominations tvere accommodated, and the Commissioners passed a resolution that ■ nly ordained ministers should conduct sudb . services, ana this occurred last week. Last Sunday Mr Turnbull made his usual visit to the Hospital, and entered the ward without communicating with aqy official, and commenced talking with the Patients while the doctor was still engaged in the ward. The latter requested Mr/ Turnbull to withdraw until he hrid finished, but he declined, producing a pass given to M. H. R. ’s, entitling them to' visit hospitals, gaols, » .d lunatic asylums at any time. Mr Turnbull claims that words “at any time ” are to be literally interpreted, and told the doctor he would act upon that interpretation.. Thedpctor, therefore, complained to thb Commissioners that Mr Turnbull was interfering with him in the performance of his duties. A special meeting of the Commissioners was held to-day,at which long statements in writing were received from the doctor and Mr Turnbull. The former asked to be protected from insult and the interference of the latter, who declined to attend the meeting, and asserted his right to visit whenever he pleased on the authority of the pass, and > stating that he would continue his visits ex officio. The Commissioners questioned Mr Turnbull’s reading of‘ the words, i“at any time,” and passed the following resolution •.—“ While recognising Mr Turnbull's authority to visit the Hospital, the' Commissioners will not allow him or anyone else to interfere with the internal arrangements of the. Institution. The members, of Parliament are supposed to be gentlemen of sufficient common sense to know that the officers in charge should be communicated with and treated with ordinary courtesy, which Mr Turnbull in this case has failed to do.” “ That copies of all letters and evidence taken in the case reported by Mr Turndull be s mt to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary for his information, and also for his advice on Mr Turnbull’s action as a visitor to the Hospital, and as a member of the General Assembly:’’ ’' '■