CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1627, 8 May 1879, Page 3

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Wednesday, Mat 7. A special meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at 4 p.m. Present—Mr H. Thomson (ch ifman), Mr W. Montgomery, the Mayor of Syden am, Dr. Turnbull. *’ ,T COMMITTEE. REPORT OP nosrnAu ( ,1 The report of the hospital committee on * complaints against the matron was brought up and read as follows Tho hospital committee beg to report that they have carefully enquired into the complaints made by the house surgeon, the house steward, and thirteen servants agaiust the matron of the Bos* pital, and they attach to this report their findings on tho several charges .which have beCu preferred. Prom the evidence elicited, the committee are of opinion that the charges are not substantiated. The committee regret to report that, from what has transpired during the enquiry, it is evident that there has been a great absence of cordiality, mutual forbearance, concession, and co-operation among and between tho officers as would conduce to the well-being, good management, and prestige of the institution. The committee are also of opinion that immediate stops should he taken to revise tho rules regulating the duties of each officer and department of the Hospital, as under the present unsatisfactory condition of the regulations charges of a similar nature may constantly he made. Tho committee are further of opinion that a better system of management should be established than that at present existing, and they recommend to the Board the necessity of taking this matter into consideration without delay. (Signed) H. Thomson, Chairman, Board Room, Christchurch Hospital, 30th April, 1879. Mr Montgomery moved —“ That the report be adopted.” There was no doubt that the in'es required revision respecting the duties of the officers. If this were done each one would be able to confine themselves to their own departments. It seemed to him on the evidence that the House Steward had interfered with the duties of the Matron. Dr. Turnbull said that the House Steward was acting up to the instructions given to him by the Medical Board at the time they were in charge of the institution. Mr Montgomery said it was very satisfactory to find that the charge of interference with the religions tenets of the patients had been entirely disproved. Dr. Turnbull said that the rules of the bos* pital were perfectly sufficient if they had a lay man in charge of the whole institution removed from the class of servants, at a fair salary, a gentleman of business habits, who would manage the institution as a captain managed a ship If they could manage to afford this they would find that they would save money, The Mayor of Sydenham and Mr Montgomery agreed with the remarks of Dr Turnbull, and thought that the interests of the Hospital demanded that a change should be made in the management of the Hospital. The Chairman felt that until they had a gentleman such as that proposed by Dr Turnbull, the Hospital would not be efficiently carried on. . Mr Montgomery wanted to bring before the public that these disagreements between the officers had not interfered with tho patients in any way, so far as the Board had been enabled to discover. The Chairman said that this had not been the case at all. The charges had been a mere matter of personal affair between the matron and tho officers, the charges made by the latter not being at all substantiated. The committee reported on the request as to a donation for books for the library that it was inadvisable to grant any money until there was a catalogue prepared of the works now in the library, and also that they be placed in the room set apart for their reception. The Mayor of Sydenham moved the adoption of the report. . Mr Montgomery seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

ENTERTAINMENTS FOE THE PATIENTS. A letter was read from Mr J. Q. Walker, asking permission for a few friends to come and sing some sweet low melodies, such as those to be found in Sankey's collection, in the accident and convalescent ward. Dr. Turnbull suggested that the Board thank Mr Walker for the suggestion, but state that the Board were not prepared to entertain it at present, as though it might be soothing to some it would not be the thing for all. After some further discussion, it was resolved to forward the letter of _Mr Walker to the medical staff for their opinion.

DR. MARK'S RESIGNATION. The following letter was read from Dr. Mark:— , ~ <* Christchurch, May b. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge receipt of a letter dated April 30th from Mr March, in which he forwarded to me, by instruction of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, a copy of their resolution, asking me whether I desire the Board to hold an enquiry. He has not, however, informed me whether the Board approved of Mr Montgomery's proposal, as printed in the Press, to put ine in this position that, if I should not demand an enquiry, the Board should consider my statement in reference to Mr Chilton's conduct as not substantiated, a position which would have left me no alternative. I therefore take no hesitation to avail myself of my full optional liberty, in replying that as it was not my object in the first instance to request an enquiry, so I can find in Mr Chilton's denial of my statement no sufficient motive to alter my opinion now, chiefly for this reason that Mr Chilton, being the principal witness in my case against him, proved, to my amazement, both before the staff and the Board, a cunning hand at misrepresenting my case altogether. I, however, feel obliged to furnish the Board with soino of those facts which form the foundation to the idea of my expressed " deliberate opposition" concerning Mr Chilton's interference with my position at tbe Hospital. I therefore beg to enclose a sketch of my own case to show that I am fully prepared to substantiate my charge in case that the Board should, on their own account, decide upon instituting an enquiry. I have, &C, your obedient servant, Moritz Mark, M.D. The Chairman Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. A lengthy statement of the case as put by Dr Mark was read.

It was resolved that an enquiry into the matters contained in Dr. Mark's letter be held by the Board, and that the secretary write to Dr. Mark to inform him of the same. The enquiry was fixed to be held on Tuesday next, at 7.30 p.m.