CALL FOR DOCTOR

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21085, 9 February 1934, Page 8

CALL FOR DOCTOR

♦ BYRD EXPEDITION'S NEED PRACTITIONER AT RANFURLY MAY GO LTHE PBESS Special Service.3 DUNEDIN, February 8. Following the urgent radio message for a fully qualified doctor and surgeon to go immediately to the Byrd Expedition's base at Little America, to take over the duties of Dr. Shirey, the expedition's medical officer, who has been taken seriously ill, steps have been taken without delay to endeavour to secure the services of a doctor to make the trip.

Enquiries made this morning at the medical school of Otago University failed to discover an available man, while a Timaru doctor, who was communicated with by telephone, was forced to turn down the offer because of the pressure of local duties. However, some encouragement was received from a medical practitioner at Ranfurly, who is prepared to consider the proposition of journeying to the base, but his decision will not be known until tomorrow. Should a suitable doctor be propared to make the trip immediately a vessel will probably have to be chartered to transport him to the ice. In the event of a suitable charter not being available there is a possibility of a ship having to be purchased. Jacob Ruppert Too Late Dr. Shirey was to join the Jacob Ruppert at Little America, to be brought back to New Zealand, the vessel being expected to leave the ice barrier last Tuesday. She is expected to reach this port about the end of next week, but will be too late to return with another doctor, who, it is hoped, will be -well on the way south by that time. It was suggested last night that the Wyatt Earp should convey a local doctor to the barrier, and Mr Lincoln Ellsworth expressed his desire, in a message sent from National Park to Dunedin, to assist in this way, but stated that he would leave Sir Hubert Wilkins, who is in command of the vessel, to decide whether the ship should go or n6t. Sir Hubert instantly conferred with his engineers, and the conclusion was reached that the Wyatt Earp was at present unfit to make the trip. It would require about a month's work to prepare her for another voyage to the ice. Winter at Base If a doctor is engaged to join the expedition party he must be willing to winter at the base with a section of the men who will be left there during the return of the Jacob Ruppert and the Bear of Oakland to Dunedin. It is probable that he will not set foot on New Zealand soil for 12 months after he leaves. OTHER POSSIBILITIES OFFERS FROM CHRISTCHURCH AND NELSON (PBESS ASSOCIATION TILEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, February 8. The local agent of the Byrd Antarctic expedition, Mr T. J. Gardiner, to-day received an offer from Dr. Potaka, of Nelson, to serve as medical officer in Little America, in place of Dr. Shirey, who is returning sick. It is understood that a young Christchurch surgeon has also offered his services. The question of transporting a doctor south is causing some concern. Mr Lincoln Ellsworth informed Mr Gardiner to-day that he would gladly place the Wyatt Earp at his disposal, but she is undergoing extensive repairs at Dunedin, [ and cannot be got ready for sea before the end of the month. It is doubtful whether the Jacob Ruppert will be able to make a second voyage, and get clear of the Antarctic before the sea freezes over again. LOCAL POSITION NEGOTIATIONS BEING CONTINUED The appeal for a doctor to replace Dr. Guy Shirey, medical officer with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition at Little America, had not met with a definite response in Christchurch early last evening, Mr J. H. Duncan, manager for H. L. Tapley and Co., agents for the expedition, said yesterday before leaving for Timaru. Negotiations were being carried out in several quarters, however, and he felt sure a medical man would be secured. It is not considered likely that any doctor in practice will be prepared to go, and as a young man who is physically fit to stand up to the conditions of an Antarctic winter is required, - a university graduate who has not yet been placed in practice will probably be chosen.

Mr M. P. Cadln, local manager of Canadian National Steamships, who is acting for Mr Duncan in Christchurch said that he had not received any offers from doctors in Christchurch and did not expect that any doctor in practice would offer. The question nt setting transport for the doctor when he was secured was quite another matter, he added, and he did not. know what would be done about that There had been a suggestion that the Jacob Ruppert would make the trip, but by the time she refuelled and returned it was doubtful if she would be able to get to the base