DR. CAMPBELL'S CASE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1031, 15 October 1877, Page 3

DR. CAMPBELL'S CASE.

In the Legislative Council, the Hon. Dr Pollen, in laying upon the table a return to an order of the Council on the motion of the Hon. Mr Eobinson, said the return was strictly confined to the terms of the order: that was to say, it contained a copy of the petition or communication forwarded to the Government by the medical staff of the Christchurch Hospital. With respect to the latter part of the order, which required the Government to inform the Council what steps they proposed to take in the matter, he would just read to the Council a communication received by the Government from Dr Campbell. It was addressed to the Hon. Mr Bowen, and was as follows : " From the enclosed article, which appeared in the "North Canterbury News," you will see that it has gone out to the public that a memorial has been forwarded to the Grovernment by the medical and surgical staff of the hospital, praying for my removal as surgeon to that institution. This memorial is said to be signed by all except one, while in reality Dr Parkerson was not consulted at all, and Dr Prins again refused to subscribe to it. Inasmuch as my private professional character is openly and publicly brought into question, I would respectfully ask you if such a memorial has been presented to you, and, if so, could I get a copy of it ? " I am sorry to have to trouble you in the midst of your many public duties, but when you consider the article referred to I think you will agree with me that I am entitled to an explanation from the memorialists; and, feeling all along that I have act ed with the most perfect conscientiousness, and under the able advice of my legal advisers (Messrs T. S. Duncan and George Harper), I feel that I am bound to ask an inquiry, especially from the Government, who placed me in my position in the hospital. I feel also that, if the act 3 imputed to me were true, I am no longer fit to occupy that position, nor that of having my name any longer retained on the Medical Eegister of New Zealand. If you can find time to reply by telegram, I shall deem it an honor and favour." The course the Government proposed to take was to forward to Dr Campbell a copy of the petition or communication—that, in fact, had already been done —and in due course to make an inquiry into the circumstances of the case.