NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 111, 4 February 1943, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

A iiulilislted resolution by the executive of the N.Z.R.S.A. ileliues itattitude on the question raised in protests received against the atlinitlance b.v the University Senate of alien refugee doctors as students at the Otago Medical School. Briefly, it takes the view that such doctors as qualify should be allowed to practise under temporary licences only, these lo be subject, to review-after the war. There should be no difficulty in clarifying litis issue, for a broad principle bus been laid down that accords with the general sentiment of the public. This is that no man should bo pro,! nd iced as to the restoration of his former civilian employment b.v the fact that lie has lefr it. to servo his country in the war. Professional mon. such as doctors and dentists, are in the same categor.v. A large number of these have been etilled up for service overseas, and practices built tip b.v personal skill and energies have had to bo abandoned b.v litis interruption lo their professional careers. For them it has been a professional as well as a financial sacrifice. It is desirable, therefore, that the position of alien refugee doctors seeking, or being allowed, to practise in this country in the meantime should be siihieet to such reservations as will remove any impediment to the restoration as far as possible of practices to those obliged to leave them on account of the war.

Al one time Hitler's professed aim was the creation of a ’now order" in Europe. Now. it is lo fight Bolshevism. II is rather significant that his creature in Prance. I’ii’rre Laval, has taken up lite saute cry—"we have to do everything.” lie says, “to prevent France suffering the calamity of Bolshevism.” This looks very like a preconcerfetl slogan to switch their public on to a new line of thought, that so far from their aims being aggression aud territorial conquests, their one idea is to save civilization from something thin will bo worse Ilian anything it lias yet suffered. II would not be al all surprising to find that this niolif has been made lhe basis of the peace offensive which, it is expected, may soon lie launched b.v the Nazi ugeiils and propagandists in various countries. including the United Nations. This expected offensive, no doubt anticipated at Casabliim-a, has been forestalled, however, by the uncompromising declaration from Hie Allied leaders at that historic conference, that nothing short of "unconditional surrender" will be accepted.