WESTLAND APPEAL

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1945, Page 2

WESTLAND APPEAL

Retention of Doctor MEDICAL COUNCIL’S CONTRARY ACTION. [Our Own Correspondent! HOKITIKA, May 14. Following the recent sine die adjournment by the Armed Forces Appeal Board of the appeal for Dr. E. J. Velvin, the Director-General of Health, Dr. Watt, who is Chairman of the Medical Council, Wellington, today advised the Westland Hospital Board that he is moving for a rehearing of Dr. Velvin’s case. The Board has also been advised that the rehearing will take place here next Friday. The Chairman of the Hospital Board, Mr E. W. Heenan, stated That it appeared that authorities in Wellington were determined not to permit Hokitika and the Westland district to have thd services of two doctors —that was, two doctors for GOOO people, plus Westland Hospital, Hokitika Maternity Home, and the towns of Kumara and Ross. Needless to say this pinpricking from Wellington »vas bound to cause trouble. As Chairman of the Board and also organiser (if the petition to retain Dr. E. J. Velvin, he (Mr Heenan) had received the solid support of every organisation of workers and farmers in Westland, the Returned Services’ Association, and the Federation of Women’s Institutes, who at their Ross meeting notified their support by a unanimous vote of one hundred delegates. In view of this further action taken by. the Director or Chairman of the Medical Council, he (Mr Heenan) had telegraphed the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. Walter Nash, as follows: — “The Armed Forces Appeal Board, acting .under instructions from Wellington, have brought a rehearing of the apoeal against service by Dr. E. J. Velvin, Assistant Medical Superintendent of Westland Hospital, and private practictioner for Hokitika, Kumara and surrounding districts. This appeal was dealt with on April 30, and adjourned sine die. The appeal to hold Dr. Velvin at Hokitika, was lodged by the Hospital Board and supported’by a petition signed by seventeen, hundred residents of Hokitika, Kumara and Ross, together with all outlying districts, and with the support of every trade union, Farmers’ Union and all organisations throughout the district. The Women’s Institute conference, attended by one hundred delegates, carried a resolution in full support of the retention of Dr. Velvin. The Hospital Board and the workers, with all residents of the whole district, are incensed, and we definitely are of opinion that we are being victimised by Dr. Watt, Di-rector-General of Health, who is Chairman of the Medical Council. This Council, we are of opinion, is behind the direction order. West Coasters are a peace-loving community, and Dr. Velvin was secured without the help of this Medical Council or its Director. In the name of the people of Westland and the Hospital Board, I earnestly request you, as ActingPrime Minister, to confer with the Hon. J'ames O’Brien, Member for Westland, and to issue instructions to the Minister of Manpower to withdraw the instructions . for rehearing. Returned soldiers’ organisations and workers’ organisations are solidly behind the request. Petitions and letters from all organisations will be posted to you by air mail should you so desire. " Tho rehearing is set down for Friday of this week, and we enter an emphatic protest against the rehearing being granted to the Medical Council”.