VISITS OF M.H.R.'s TO HOSPITALS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1404, 14 June 1883, Page 2

VISITS OF M.H.R.'s TO HOSPITALS.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) TiilAP, Wednesday. An unfortunate disagreement has . occurred between MrTurnbull, M.H.R. and. the hospital authorities. For the past twelve years or so Mr Turnbull i has been in the habit of visiting the . hospital on Sunday mornings, conducting a sort of religious service in the male ward, distributing papers, &c, among the inmates, and doing kindly offices for them- Two Snndays ago he notice?} tfyaf* old inmate, a feeble and imbecile old manj had abjack eye, • and be made enquiry about it, and not being satisfied with the resident surgeon's explanation that it was due to an accident, called on the Commissioners to hold a formal enquiry. They did so, and the evidence taken went to show that the injury resulted from an accident,'and DrDrew, the Resident Surgeon, incensed, perhaps, that his" explanation was ignored, and, in,, fact,; flatly repudiated by Mr Turnbull, made a counter complaint that Mr Turnbull conducted an English, service in the ward where members of all denomina-. tions Were; accommodated, and the commissioners passed a resolution'that, only ordained ministers should conduct! such services. This occurred last week. Last Sunday Mr Turnbull made his usual visit to the hospital and entered the .ward, without communicating with any officer, and commenced talking with the patients while the doctor was still engaged in the ward, Tho latter requested Mr Turnbull to withdraw till he had 'finished, but ho declined, producing the pass given to all M.H.R's entitling them to visit hospitals, gaols, and lunatic asylums at anytime. Mr Turnbull claims that the word's Cat anytime" are to be 'literally interpreted, and told the doctor he would act. on that interpretation, The doctor therefore complained to the Commissioners that Mr Turn-, bull was interfering with him In the performance of his duties. A special meeting pf |he Commissioners was held at w|ich' long statements . in writing were received from-the doctor and Mr Turnbull. The former asking to' be protected ironv,Jnsult ■■■and- v interference, and ; the latter (who declined to attend the . 'meeting}';asserted: his'right to visit ■wheneyerne pleased,;on the authority of his pass, and stating'that he would

continue -lii's yisiis ;TheCommissioners;. .questioned, Mr: Turiiboll's:reading of the words "At anjr, Jime,v and passed the following reaolutionß:—-" That while recognising; Mr Turnmill'a authority to visit the, Hospital,; the Commissioners' would not allow him or anyone else to interfere ■ with the internal arrangements of. the of;Parliament are supposed to be gentlemen of sufficient cqmmon.sense to know that tho officer in charge should be communicated withj and treated with ordinary courtesy, which Mr Turnbull in this case, has' failed to do." " That copies of all letters.and the evidence taken in the case reported by MrTuriibull be sent to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary for his information, and also for his advice on Mr Turnbull's action as a member of the General Assembly."