THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2450, 11 February 1882, Page 3

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

To the Editor of the Oloie. Bra, —By the report of the proceedings of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, which appears in yesterday’s papers, it will be seen that the Government have refused to give effect to the Board's recommendation “ That the chairman of the Hospital staff have a seat on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.” Those who watch and take an interest in the affairs of the Hospital will remember that when the proposal was made, at the previous meeting of the Board, by Mr E. O. J. Stevens, Mr Montgomery very justly remarked that the matter was of considerable importance, and that it would be wise to defer its consideration till the next meeting, when a full Board might be expected to be present, Messrs Thomson and Prins being absent; but this fair suggestion met with no approval from the other members present. I feel bound to remark that this practice of passing important resolutions, not urgent, when the Board is not fully represented is to be deprecated. It is mere than probable that the mode of constituting the Board will, ere long, be altered, and that the present irresponsible body of men will be replaced by an elective Board. In the meantime the party tactics lately displayed by Drs. Turnbull, Frankish, &c., cannot be too highly condemned. When Dr. Turnbull was gazetted a member of the Board it was in virtue of his being chairman of the Hospital staff at that time in existence, and there is no doubt that he should have given up his seat at the same time that he lost the chairmanship of the staff, to have been succeeded by the next chairman of the staff. That he did not adopt this course is well known, but retained it apparently to act there, as was lately pointed out was his habit at the Public Library, as a disturber of the proper and harmonious working of the institution. Had he acted as no doubt it was intended he should there would have been no question a* to the future chairmen of the staff having a seat upon the Board, but they would have stepped into this position ex offieio, in the same way that the Mayors of Christchurch, Sydesham, and Lyttelton, and the termination of one office would also put an end to the other. Not long ago the same party secured a partisan in Mr £. C. J. Stevens, and there can be no doubt that this was in view of the coming election of the Hospital staff. How the Board acted on that occasion, and elected men of inferior experience and professional standing, has already been pointed out. It was too much after all this to expeot that Dr. Prins and the gentlemen who, with him, are anxious to act in a fair and honorable manner, would allow themselves to be quietly outnumbered. Accordingly, a recommendation was made to Government that Dr. Prins should be placed on the Board. The Government, recognising the justness of the request, and being aware that no one has rendered better service to the institution than Dr. Prins, at once consented. No sooner is this known than Dr. Turnbull, and his comrades in the fight, set to work to have Dr. Frankish’s name placed on the Board, of course as a checkmate to that of the late chairman. If this were to go on indefinitely, and every chairman of the staff were to be appointed, and still, like Dr. Turnbull, retain his seat, the Board would probably soon number amongst its members half the doctors in Christchurch. The Government, doubtless understanding all this, have wisely refused to make any farther additions to the Board, which they consider is already sufficiently numerous. Every one connected with our Hospital must be gratified that Dr. Prins had received his appointment before the Government adopted their resolution, for no present member is so deserving of a seat or understands Hospital affairs so well. It was he who first organised the Hospital and put it into good working order, at a time when there was no visiting staff and no Hospital Board, and when aa resident surgeon be had the sole care and responsibility not only of the medical and surgical treatment of the patients, but of the whole management of the institution. Yours, &0., MEDIOUS,