HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1675, 3 July 1879, Page 4

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

A special meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday afternoon, in reference to the application of Dr. Chilton (house surgeon), to bo allowed to resign his position at the hospital. There wore present—the chairman, Mr Thomson, Dr. Turnbull, the Mayor of Sydenham, Mr J. E. Brown, Mr Montgomery, and the Mayor of Christchurch. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were read and confirmed. , , Mr Booth stated that Dr. Chilton had stated to him that he had received information of what took place in committee with regard to his application to be allowed to resign, and he desired that Dr. Chilton should he asked from •whom he had obtained such information. The matter referred to was that ho was supposed to contemplate engaging l in practice with Dr, Campbell. Mr Brown did not think it a matter worth troubling about. .. , Mr Booth said he might not have mentioned the matter, but that a statement appeared m print charging Dr. Turnbull with making a certain statement. . The Chairman said the version he heard of the matter was quite different. He in conversation with Dr. Chilton, told that gentleman that it was common rumor he was going to join a member of the medical staff, and Dr. Chilton appeared to jamp at the conclusion that Dr. Turnbull had made the statement. Dr. Turnbull thought the question should he Mr Montgomery apprehended that Mr Booth must have a good reason for wanting the information ha sought to obtain. Dr. Chilton was then called in. _ The Chairman asked him who had given him the information about the committee’s proceedings . , Dr. Chilton —Tourself, sir, and you state that Dr. Turnbull had said in committee rumor was current that I was about to start it business with Dr. Campbell; also you gave me to understand that Dr. Turnbull said I was not the man to keep my agreement with the Board. I have written a letter on the subject to the Board, The Chairman read a portion of the letter setting forth that Dr. Chilton had been told by the chairman that Dr. Turnbull said ha (Chilton) was quite ready to throw lip the engagement with the Hospital, there being no legal tie between them. Dr. Chilton —I understood that from the chairman. .., , , Mr Booth asked Dr. Chilton if he remembered what conversation they had together on the subject. Dr. Chilton —I gathered from you that what I had heard was correct. Mr Booth—l am quite prepared to go into the conversation I had with Dr. Chilton on the subject. Can Dr. Chilton remember what led him to uustand that as from me? Dr. Chilton—l cannot exactly remember tho words you used. Mr Booth —The subject was broached, and I said to Dr. Chilton that the matter was not considered. I ask the Board whether from that Dr. Chilton had any right to gather such an understanding. The Chairman said —There are two charges made against me, and I desire to make a few remarks thereon. In the first place I am accused by Dr. Chiltou of telling him that Dr. Turnbull had made certain statements in committee. Nov/, I distinctly deny saying one word about the matter. The facts of my interview with Dr. Chilton are simply those. Ho came to me the day after the Board meeting, and requested me to take into consideration whether the Board conld not hold its special meeting at an earlier date than had been decided on, because ho had to give the Oddfellows’ society an answer on or before the Ist of July. I pointed out to him that X might call a meeting c-ailier, hut that might not servo him better, as, in ca- o of there not being a quorum present, the object would be defeated. Dr. Chilton then said it would ho bettor to _go on. Ho then commenced to urge his claims upon the Board to bo allowed to go, pointing out that he had prospects of bettering himself, which might not occur again for some time. I told him, upon this, that it it was commonly rumored outside that he (Dr. Chilton) was going to join a member of the medical staff (Dr. Campbell), and I pointed out that such a rumor,_ it it did not injuriously affeit him, was certainly calculated to injure Dr. Campbell. Well, Dr. Chilton immediately said, “Oh, I know who that comes from, Dr. Turnbnll.” He also said if ho did not go out of the Hospital he should bo put out, as the whole of the hospital staff was against him. Now, I distinctly deny having told Dr. Chilton that the circumstance was mentioned in committee. I merely told him that I had heard it stated, and I never mentioned Dr. Turnbull's name in the matter. He urged his case strongly, and I said that probably the Board would not endeavor to keep a gentleman who was very desirous of leaving ; but at the same time it might not ho to the interest of the Hospital to allow him to go. To that ho said he would get a substitute, cr, if the Board would allow him to go, he would give so much of his time to the Hospital, and would not take private practice. I then told him that the Board would consider his case fairly, hut I reminded him that they had also to consider the interests of tho Hospital. As to giving him an idea rf what took place in committee, that T distinctly deny. With reference to his connection with the Board in its legal aspect, only a few words took place between ns. He said there was no legal engagement. I pointed out that he had written a letter accepting a twelve months’ engagement, with six months’ notice, and ho then said if it was not legal it was morally binding, and ho would abide by it. That was all that took place with regard to that matter. And I may hero repeat that there was nothing in what I said to Justify Dr. Chilton in drawing the inference ho did. Dr. Chilton—l was very indignant about such rumours having been made, and I went to Dr. Campbell about it, advising him to go to the chairman of the Board and obtain a denial cf tho thing. The Chairman —I promised to, and will do so hero. Dr. Chilton —Tho letter I have written was based upon that very matter of such charges having been made in the committee. Dr.’Turnbull (to the Chairman) —Did I evor aey such a thing ? The Chairman—Certainly not. Dr. Chilton —Well, if it is so I am willing to apologise to Dr. Turnbull, but X distinctly understood the statement was made, and I was naturally very angry about it. The Chairman —I am certain Dr. Chilton jumped to the conclusion on leaving me that Dr. Turnbull had mado tho statement, became he immediately said, “ That’s Dr, Turnbull; ” but he had no right to arrive at such a conclusion. Mr Montgomery—Then have we arrived at this, that the statement allowed to have been mado by Dr. Turnbull never actually found utterance during committee ? The Chairman—Certainly ; and I never for a moment gave Dr. Chilton to understand that such a statement was made. Dr. Turnbull —What I said was simply part of tho enquiry as to whether two officers of the Hospital were going into partnership outside, as that was a matter of common rumor. The letter of _Dr. Chilton to tho Board, containing expressions of opinion in relation to the Bubject matter of tho foregoing discussion, was then read. Tho Chairman also rend Dr. Chilton’s application to bo allowed to resign his position as Hospital surgeon ; also the terms of the doctor’s engagement with the Board. The Board then entered into a consideration of the application before them. The Chairman said that Dr. Chilton was certainly hound to the Board for fifteen months. The Board, however, had to consider the best interests of tho institution, and under all the circumstances, considering that the doctor was strongly anxious to go, and considering also that he had written a letter of an objectionable character to tbo Board, bo thought it might bo bettor to relieve him on the Ist of August. He thought arrangements might he made to obtain a substitute. I Mr J. E. Brown hod come to the meeting impressed with tho idea that Dr. Chilton was legally bound for fifteen months, hut since he had he ird that letter read he had groat donhts about the propriety of retaining his services. To keep him would probably entail a dispute at law touching his engagement, and it would also be necessary to inquire into the charges ho had brought against a member of the Board, which ho (Mr Brown) considered undesirable, in fact he thought the letter written by Dr. Chilton ought to be taken no notice of. It would, he thought he well, under tho circumstances, to apply to the medical staff, so as to make arrangements for relieving Dr. Chilton of his duties. Personally, he could not attend at the Board if such things wore likely to recur. He concluded by moving—“ That if tho hospital committee, after consulting with the medical staff, can make arrangements for tho proper conduct of the hospital, Dr. Chilton be allowed to leave on such day as the committee may determine.” Mr Montgomery seconded the motion. Ho thought tho chairman bad put tbo case very fairly as to tho position which the Board should take up. Dr. Turnbull considered that Dr. Chilton had, to a Targe extent, allowed bis imagination to run away with him. After some discussion of a conversational character, the resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Tho Board then adjourned. The Athena journals stxte that the Albanians in Paris, in order to conciliate the Italians, promise to aid Italy against Austria, hoping thus to secure Italian aid, overthrow the protectorate of Turkey, and obtain their independence.