ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1915, Page 8

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL COR PS

ADDITIONAL DOCTOR REQUIRED. NEW ZEALAND SURGEONS ASKED TO VOLUNTEER « [PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION — COPYRIGHT.]

WELLINGTON, June 10. Hon. J. Allen, Minister for Defence, stated to-night that the Government nns received a cable intimitating that tlie War Office is desirous to engage additional men from New Zealand as temporary lieutenants of the Royal Army Modicnl Corps. 1 The successful candidates will be required to go through a course of training at a training centre of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Candidates must be duly registered medical practitioners in New Zealand, under thirty-five years of age preferred, but' applications of age will be considered. The War Office is also prepared to consider individual applications from senior medical men whose status will be considered and dealt with according to the merits of each case. Applications under the above categories should be addressed to the Inspector General of Hispitals, Department of Public Health, Wellington, or, if the applicant belongs to the New Zealand Medical Corps to the Director of Medical Science, Wellington. In reference to the above, the Minister for Defence stated that all applications would be considered and all precautions taken with a view to preventing an undue depletion of districts of medical men. The urgency of the matter and the vital issues at stake renders it imperative for the country to supply the demand for medical men to its utmost limit. < The Government is all the more hopeful that it will be possible to spare the medical men required without unduly depleting the country of its civil medical service owing to the offers of medical men for service in any part of the Dominion where their services may be required. Arrangements are also being made with the authorities of the Dunedin medical school for an early examination of students, it being understood that no less than, thirty students are qualified to sit -for the next final exam, in addition to the senior students some of whom it is hoped niaye be returned from the seat of war. Such being the case, concluded the Ministers, I am confident, provided every care is taken as I have already mentioned, to prevent an undue depletion of the districts of medical men, that the country will be able to provide a large proportion of the Doctors required by the authorities without seriously interfering with the civil medical service, and our hospital system. It is true some reorganisation and redistribution of medical men may prove necessary, but I feel sure that the splendid patriotism and unselfishness that has been so characteristic of the New Zealand public will allow the necessary arrangements tec be made, for the benefit of the men who are now engaged in this momentous struggle, even if we do have to suffer some little inconvenience.