Director-General Of Health

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 15117, 28 October 1949, Page 3

Director-General Of Health

Wellington Doctor Appointed

Post Carries Salary Of

£2500

(P.A.) Wellington, Oct. 27. Dr John Cairney, superintendent-in-chief to the Wellington Hospital Board, has been appointed DirectorGeneral of Health, the Public Service Commission announced today. He will succeed Dr T. R. Ritchie, who is retiring after more than 42 years' service with the Health Department. Sir Charles Hercus, dean of the medical school of the University of Otago, Dr E. H. M. Luke (Wellington), Mr Douglas Rcbb (Auckland) and Mr P. E. Stainton (chairman of the New Plymouth Hospital Board), acted as an advisory group to the commission in considering the appointment. The Public Service Commission offered a maximum salary of up to £2500 for the position. This salary i.<; nearly £SOO above any other position in the Government, service and £BOO more than has previously been paid to the head of the Health Department. There was much comment recently On the difference between salaries in the Public Service and earnings outside, and the new salary offered for this position represents a marked change in policy. Dr Cairney, who was born in Greymouth in 1898, took his degrees at Otago University, where he was iater demonstrator, lecturer and assistant professor of anatomy. He was made a fellow of the Division of Medical Education of the Rockefeller Foundation. He was for a time medical superintendent of the Hawera Hospital. Dr Cairney is an external examiner in anatomy for the University of New Zealand.