Dr. Newman Resigns

Northern Advocate, 19 August 1949, Page 5

Dr. Newman Resigns

Impossible To Do Good Work Under Bureaucratic System'

■ DR J. L. NEWMAN, medical officer of health for Northland, has resigned from the Health Department.^ Dr Newman said today that he had “found it impossible to do any good work because of the bureaucratic system of government which allows no initiative to the district health office.” Another reason was that the Official Secrets Act would not let him divulge anything he knew of departmental work.

A further reason, he said, was because “professional qualifications and experience have proved no advantage in the Public Service.” “I have had some ideas on the development of New Zealand’s health service, but no action has been taken,” he said. “If I had been Sir Truby King and had had some ideas on infant welfare, my ideas would have gone to a departmental head who was approaching superannuation and who was afraid to take action, and there my ideas would have ended. “The Official Secrets Act makes it impossible for me to divulge specific information concerning any ideas I might have had. “All these reasons have combined to give me a feeling of frustration.” TWO YEARS WITH DEPARTMENT Dr Newman has been two years with the department, the whole of which time has been spent in Whangarei. He received his M.D. degree at Cambridge and his M.R.C.P. at London University. Before coming to New Zealand two years ago he had 17 years’ experience with Government health services in England. “Conditions in Nevf„ Zealand are better in some ways and in some ways worse than in England,” he said. “However, in England there is no Official Secrets Act, and a health of-r fleer is left to his own discretion.” Dr Newman’s resignation will take effect in November. He said today that he has not yet decided on his plans for the future.