"WANTED—A DOCTOR"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 188, 11 August 1941, Page 2

"WANTED—A DOCTOR"

CONCERN IN RUNANGA

MIXERS CAM., TO GOVERXMEXT (0.C.) GREYMOUTH, Sunday. A decision to give the Government another week in which to find a doctor was reached to-day at an adjourned meeting of the Runanga District Medical Society following a discussion of the position which has arisen over the resignation of the present resident doctor, Dr. E. H. Densem. It was decided at last week's meeting to adjourn for one week and invite Mr. J. O'Brien. M.P.. to he present to see if something eoidd be done. When the society met this morning Mr. F. J. Oakley, the president. reported that efforts to get Mr. O'Brien to attend had been unsuccessful, while no reply had been received from the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmever, until the previous day. when "the Minister advised that he was negotiating with another doctor and hoped to be able to communicate further with the society next week.

Mr. Oakley said he had also spoken over the telephone to the only applicant for the position, a German Jewish refugee doctor, now resident in Auckland. From this conversation it was obvious the doctor spoke good English. The Greymouth doctors said they would not see Runanga stuck in the event of an emergency, but it was impossible for them to give one hundred per cent service.

Translated testimonials of the German Jewish refugee before the meeting showed that he spoke five languages, including English, and held the German equivalent of the M.D. degree.

The discussion disclosed the general view that if there is no doctor in Runanga on August 20, when the present, doctor's notice expires, there will be no work in th: mines.

The president and secretary of the Dobson Medical Society, who were present at the meeting, said their society was facing a similar difficulty through the resignation of Dr. Sneddon. which would becomfc effective on August 2i, and they had taken the same attitude, putting the onus on the Government.