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253
cause of justice, truth and humanity on behalf of the Orphan School
-'
chi ldren was construed by his opponents as offensiveness and personal
abuse.
On October 8 in his concern for the welfare of the children
he described Benson 's medical report of the measles epidemic as meagre,
insufficient and highly unsatisfactory, but his resolution that Benson be
required to furnish a second, fully detai led report was defeated. 3 0
At
the next meeting on November 4, at the height of a discussion on the
''Report for 186011 already adnpted on October 8, he obj ected to the annoying
habit of the ''official members" of reopening and arguing about matters
already settled by the others during their frequent ab sences .
I'Jhen a member urged that Bedford ought to pub lish in the
netspapers any observations he had now to make on the merit or
otherwise of the report and not to reopen an endless dis cuss ion
on the subj ect ; and , as I remarked, not even citing correctly
the very printed document lying open before him, Dr Benson
launched forth aggravating allusions to my letters through the
press . This the chairman let pass unrebuked, but when I
retorted that Bedford 'dare not meet my statements fairly
and openly' I alone was subj ected to the censure of the
chairman. I protested against such partiality in the chairman ,
and Dr Crowther manfu lly followed up my protest .
Hall summed up the cause of his long conflict with Bedford :
On all occasions I have sought to obtain open and above board
discussions as to the actual management of the institution
and the results and I never will allow erroneous statements
to pass unchallenged by whomsoever made, or however arrogantly
and dogmaticalli asserted. 31
It was enough;
the Government took note, seeing little hope of
peaceful cooperation between men so opposed in character and attitude.
On December 31, the three doctors , Bedford, Hall and Crowther , were
notified by circular letter that the Government had decided to reduce the
number of members and that their services were dispensed with for the
following year. 3 2
30
31
3 2
Mercury, October 9, 186 1.
Mercury, November 8, 1861.
CSD 4/6/36 .