MAORI HYGIENE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 6

MAORI HYGIENE.

THE NEW DIRECTOR.

Appointed to succeed Dr P. 11. Buck, now anthropologist to the Bishop Museum at Honolulu, Dr Edward Pohau Ellison commenced his new duties as Director of Maori Hygiene last week. It has been decided to transfer headquarters from Auckland to Wellington, and Dr F.llison accordingly will direct operations from tho latter city. . x . Dr Ellison is considered to be eminently suited for his new work. Born in Portobello, Dunedin, about 40 years ago, ho took’ his medical degrees at the Otago University, and for four years was medical officer at Nuie, where his work received high commendation from the authorities. Skill as a doctor and full sympathies with his own people combined to secure tho complete confidence and trust of tho Natives. On two or three occasions during his service he acted as Resident Commissioner for quite long terms, and the duties were discharged with distinction. Upon his return to New Zealand on leave, prior to proceeding to Rarotonga to assume the duties of medical other in the Cook group, Dr Ellison acceded to the request of the Health Department to up the position of resident officer for the Chatham Islands. About a rear later, in accordance with an arrangement entered into between the Cook Islands and the Health Department, he underwent a refresher course at Otago University, and left Wellington at the beginning of 1926 to take up the position of chief medical officer in t.h e Cook group, with headquarters at Rarotonga. During his stay there ho twice made complete tours of the Lower and Northern Cook Islands, and as a result of these investigations, fureished to the Administration what is regarded as a most valuable report on the health and conditions of the people in each of these isolated islands.

Those qualified to express an opinion predict a successful future for Dr Ellison in his new and more important sphere of activity.