HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2078, 21 October 1880, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary fortnightly meeting of this Board was held at the Hospital on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Present —Dr. Turnbull, Messrs W. Montgomery and J. G. Hawkes, and the Mayors of Christchurch and Sydenham. The Mayor of Sydenham was voted to the chair. The Hospital report stated that twenty-two patients had been admitted during the past fortnight, and nineteen had been discharged, leaving fifty at present in the institution. During the same period one death had occurred.

A letter from the Colonial Secretary’s office, Wellington, was read, giving notice of the Hospital inquiry and instructions as to business procedure during the chairman’s absence in Melbourne.

It was resolved that the Mayor of Christchurch act as the Board’s chairman till Mr Thomson’s return.

Dr. Skae wrote notifying his appointment to inquire into the case of Mary Keetly and others, also enclosing the commission appointing him and official instructions m the matter.

The Mayor of Christchurch reported that he had telegraphed to Wellington, advising that the Board of Health had engaged legal assistance, and asking that the Hospital Board be empowered to do likewise, to which he had received no reply ; also, that he bad seen Mr Harman this afternoon, who told him the Board of Health had abandoned the idea of being legally represented at the approaching enquiry. He considered, therefore, that the Hospital Board bad no need to engage a solicitor.

Mr Montgomery called attention to the medical staff,being in attendance, and thought the gentlemen should be called in and acquainted with the information they hod just received.

Dr. Turnbull thought the Local Board of Health ought to have treated the case in the ordinary manner and leave it for Mr Mellish to decide upon. He thought further that the enquiry should be held in the Provincial Council Chamber.

Mr Hawkes —That question was settled this morning. Dr. Turnbull continued—He objected to the representatives of the Press reporting and publishing the proceedings of the Commission day by day, as a partial impression might get abroad. He thought all information should be withheld till the enquiry closed, and then be published en masse. Mr Hawkes objected to the manner in which the Board of Health bad initiated proceedings. He entirely disagreed with Dr. Turnbull’s idea about the newspaper reporters. They had nothing to conceal. He wanted the reporters to be there day after day, and give the public every information. The Mayor of Christchurch concurred. The representatives of the medical staff were then admitted, and informed of what had occurred re legal advisers, and the Commission, with other papers from Wellington, were read.

Dr. Prins agreed with Dr. Turnbull as to the manner of publishing the enquiry proceedings, as he considered that when one side was heard, before the rebutting evidence was forthcoming, it was calculated to create a bias. At the same time, he wished for every publicity to be given it. After considerable discussion, Dr. Prins was asked to attend the enquiry, and also to refer the matter of reporting to Dr. Skae. The Mayor of Christchurch was also asked to attend as the Board’s representative. The medical staff then withdrew. It was resolved—“ That the Beard confer with the medical staff with regard to the accommodation provided for the reception of cases of infectious diseases.” Several letters were read, and cases of distress considered, and after some accounts were passed for payment, the Board went into committee.