CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 4

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

PITCAIRN ISLAND (To the Editor) I was very much interested in Mr. Marc T. Greene's article. To those of us who know some of the conditions of the residents in that lonely spot in the Pacific, the various points made by Mr. Greene proved of more than ordinary interest. There was, however, one statement to which we must take official and personal definite exception. Mr. Greene, referring to the medical needs of the people, says that "no one seems to give any heed to the situation, neither the British Government nor the Seventh-Day Adventist organisations," etc. Whether his was a recent visit, I do not know, but if it was then Mr. Greene must have known that we had located on the island a fully-qualified long experienced nurse. The nurse has given years of very acceptable service in other mission fields, and at times has had to perform even surgical operations in an emergency. Our denomination has provided this nurse for Pitcairn and she has taken with her just as much in the way of medical supplies as the authorities would allow, and stocks made available. I should also point out that every missionary we have sent down to Pitcairn from time to time has received some nursing or medical training, but I think it would be admitted that it would be very difficult to get a qualified medical man to shut himself up on Pitcairn, even for a limited period of time, particularly when there are such urgent demands elsewhere. The foregoing facts should help your readers to realise that this organisation which I represent has not been unmindful or neglectful of the medical needs of the Pitcairn residents. R- E. G. BLAIR, Secretary, North N.Z. Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists