EXPLANATION NEEDED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1069, 7 March 1911, Page 6

EXPLANATION NEEDED.

Sir,—A few days ago' you drew attention to tho fact that although qualified and the senior officer, Dr. de Lautour, of Kilbirnic, had not received the appointment of chief medical officer of the New Zealand forces. It seems to me that tho appointment Of Dr. Ptirdy, of tho Hutt, is something that requires explanation. What are. the facts? 'It is intimated to Dr. do" Lautour, while resident in Dunedin, that he could not get tho appointment unless he were a resident of Wellington. He becamo a resident of Wellington, and did not get the appointment. Why? It is. a violation of all canons of military preferment. Hero is an officer, Dr. do .Lautour, 20 years the/senior of Dr. Purdy, .■ deliberately set aside, together with sixteen other medical officers, all Dr. Purdy's senior in service, and many of them also in rank. Dr. do Lautour was (and I quote from the New Zealand Army List) a lieutenant-colonel seven or eight years before Dr. Purdy attained his majority, and there are at least four majors Dr. Purdy's seniors, and quite as many more lieut.-colonels and majors scattered throughout tho country, all superior in length of servico to Dr. Purdy. Will anyone conscientiously affirm that the snpercession by Dr. Purdy of all theso officers, all duly qualified medical men, is due to tho superior merits and special qualifications of Dr. Turdy? I see Dr. do Lautour has demanded, and been refused, an inquiry.. It is to be hoped that in tho public interest the new Commandant .will i not allow this matter to escape his notice. The interests of the servico itself renders it imperative that a full inquiry should be made.—l arn, etc., PRIVATE ATKINS.