OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24636, 15 July 1943, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR. A. N. H. KIRKHAM The death has occurred of Mr. Alfred N. H. Kirkham, aged 69, of Papakura, who was a well-known' settler in Hawke's Bay in his earlier years. Born at sea three weeks before a British ship's arrival in New Zealand, Mr, Kirkham became a stock dealer in the Hastings and Napier districts, and also owned a large butchery business. In 1927 he acquired a large sheep and cattle run near Taupo, which he successfully conducted until he retired in 1936 and came to the Auckland district. In his young days he was a prominent athlete. He is survived by his wife, three sons and one daughter. MR. CHARLES HINTON (0.C.) HAMILTON", Wednesday The death occurred at Te Awamutu to-day of Mr. Charles Hinton, aged 85. Mr. Hinton was born in Australia and came to New Zealand in 1862. He was a member of the Waikato Militia during the Maori War. Mr. Hinton was farming for some years, and joined the staff of the Te Awamutu Borough Council 25 years ago. His wife died seven years ago, and he is survived by a family of 12. DR. PETER GOW (P.A.) IXVERCARGILL, Wednesday The death occurred suddenly at Winton yesterday of Dr. Peter Gow. He was past president of the Winton Jockey Club, life member and past president of the Winton A. and P. Association, and a foundation member of that body. Dr. Cow was also a member of the committee of the trotting club. He was a justice of the peace, and had been a local body member, as well as president of the golf and tennis clubs for many years. Dr. Gow was twice married. Of three sons of his first marriage, one was recently killed in the Air Force. He is survived by his second wife, Dr. Moana Gow, two daughters and a Eon. PEOPLES HEALTH PROGRESS OF MEDICINE A plan for the reorganisation of medical services was outlined by Mr. Douglas Robb, in an address entitled "A Surgeon Looks at To-morrow," given to the Auckland Creditmen'g Club yesterday. Mr. .Robb said the vast strides made in the technical side of medicine had outmoded old methods of dealing with illness. In the place of the old general practitioner, whose knowledge was sufficient for most of his cases, there was needed a group of specialists, each of whom had mastery of the advanced techniques now used in different fields. _ "The main problem now facing medicine is that of distribution," said Mr. Robb. A very great deal of brilliant work that had been done had not reached practical application to the community because of the unequal-dis-tribution of facilities. A suggested remedy, which he had discussed with other doctors, was the setting up of medical centres in different parts of the city, according to population needs. There, patients would have the benefit of the services of a number of doctors, whose combined knowledge and facilities were adequate to deal with any but the most serious cases. Such a scheme would mean a real 2-1-hour, seven-days weekly service Reorganisation of the hospital system would be involved. The Auckland Hospital, which was at present greatly overworked, would become a specialist teaching and research clinic, and a centre for major operations. Minor cases' would be dealt with by suburban hospitals, one bigger establishment perhaps located at Takapuna and another at Papatoetoe. Chest hospitals and other special purpose hospitals could be placed where needed. That would mean a realignment of the_ doctor's and patient's ideas, and basic changes in the type of training now given student doctors. The community must plan a system of preventive medicine, father than the present system of curative medicine. To do that would take more than the efforts of the doctors themselves, and the speaker appealed to the community for assistance in a work which in the future would mean a very great deal for human welfare. AIRMAN PROMOTED (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday Advice has been received by Mr. and Mrs. C. Lissette, of Hamilton East, that their son, Sergeant-Pilot Allen Fisher Lissette, has been promoted to commissioned rank. Pilot-Officer Lissette, who is 23, was educated at the Hamilton Technical High School, and while at the school captained the senior Rugby and cricket teams. On leaving schooi, he played Rugby for Technical' Old Boys. He was also keenly interested in badminton. Pilot-Officer Lissette received his training in New Zealand, and gained his wings in February, 1941. Since going to England in March of last year, he Las been engaged in flying operations over the Continent, Gibraltar and Malta.