A DENTAL APPOINTMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2914, 28 October 1916, Page 6

A DENTAL APPOINTMENT

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S METHODS CRITICISED. Sir,—A notice from the secretary of the local branch of the New Zealand Dental Association was sent to me three weeks ago, and contained the information that a meeting was called for October 20, 1916, for "nomination of dental officer, with commission to cany out work of examining reoruits."

My brother, William Powell, being a registered dental surgeon, and lately invalided from the Imperial Army to New Zealand, made application to Colonel Hunter for the position, and on October 19 received uliis reply: "Your letter of October 17 received, witb regard to your application for the position of dental examining offieor, I regret to say this position is already filled. (Signed) Thos. G. Hunter, Lieut.-Colonel, Director of Dental Services."

Why should Colonel Hunter, after asking the association to nominate two or three dentists, announce the position already filled before nominations were forwarded to him?

Sir, Colonel Hunter, has made certain statements concerning this ap-. pointment, and with your permission I desire to bring under your notice his statements, and reply thereto:

Colonel Hunter said, as per newspaper report: "Mr. William Powell 'did not leave' New Zealand with any. New Zealand Reinforcement. While training in camp in England, it wa6 reported, he was injured, and invalided to New Zealand: Mr. Powell made application to the Department for a position, and was told that he would receive every consideration, as he had 'done his hit' in the Empire cause."

Colonel Hunter next stated that "an endeavour was being made to increaso tho dpntal staff at the camps, and later Sir. Powell said he could not accept a position offered him at tho camp, as ho understood there was a lot of 'foot work,' which he was afraid would he too strenuous for him."

Colonel Hunter then stated that "as regards the appointment of tho dental officer, he desired to point out that i the Department was not bound or under any obligation to ask the branches of the New Dental Association to submit nominations for tho position; but that course was taken as an act of conrtesy. _ Four weeks elapsed and no nominations wore received from the branches of the New Zealand Dental Association, and as tho Department could not wait indefinitely tho appointment was made. Trior to this, however," Colonel Hunter remarked, "members of the executhe New Zealand Dental Association were seen, and all they asked was that tho claims of Mr. A. C. Atkinson bo not overlokcd." Colonel Hunter concluded by stating that Mr. Atkinson "had don'b a larce amount, of gratuitous work, and ho was_ subsequently appointed to tho position." When Colonel Hunter draws a lino

of demarcation between men who have had service abroad, but not with the Nslw Zealand Forces, and implies that tliey are Unworthy of equal consideration with those who have beon injured with the New Zealand Forces, it, shows such a want of generous impulse towards "all our brothers in arms who are fighting for fie great cause," that one is shocked by his inferred callous comparisons. As a matter of fact, my brother was discharged flrom Trcntham on October 15, having contracted pneumonia at that camp. Colonel Hunter, in his published statement, desires to make it appear that when he made tho appointment my brother's name had not been placed before him. Now, Sir, the appointment was not made prior to October 7, as on that date Colonel Hunter informed the Discharged Soldiers' Bureau that he knew nothing concerning the appointment of a dental officer at the Town Hall. A vacancy for a dental officer did not exist on October 7, therefore, an appointment could not be made.

But on September 19 (that is, three weeks previously) Colonel Hunter knew about the position, a 6 on that date he communicated with the local branch of the N.Z.D.A. asking that an urgent meeting of the branch be callecl to make nominations for the position. ,On October 12 my brother went again to the Soldiers' Bureau, and was officially informed that inquiries had been made and nothing was known about the position. My brother insisted that an appointment was io be made, as I had received notice thereof on an orderpaper from the secretary of the local branch. Colonel Hunter then admitted that there was an appointment to be made, but he thought that Mr. Atkinson should bo appointed. Colonel Hunter now proceeds to state that "Mr. Powell said he could not accept a position offered him at the camp." The fact of the matter is that Colonel Hunter impressed upon my brother the necessity of a man being particularly fit and strong before attempting the strenuous work of a camp dentist, and my brother agreed that! the work would be too strenuous for him at present. At no time has Colonel Hunter definitely offered him a position of any kind—on the contrary Colonel Hunter suggested that my brother should go into private practice again.

Concerning Mr. Atkinson's l-appoint-ment. At the close of 1915 Colonel Hunter communicated with tho local branch of the N.Z.D.A. with regard to the eleotion of throe dentists to examine recruits. On January 6, 1916, he was informed by the secretary of the association that threo members had boon elected. Prior to this, on December 6, 1915, Mr. Atkinson offered his services to the association to examine recruits, and on January 6 was informed that three members were already elected. Why did these three members relinquish the positions they had been elected to and accepted after tho association passing by Mr. Atkinson's offer?, Colonel Hunter states 'that prior to tho appointment being made "members of the executive of tho New Zealand Dontal Association were seen, and all they asked was that the claims of Mr. A. C. Atkinsonybo not overlooked." Colonel Hunter is, of course, quito aware that the executive of tho N.Z.D.A. consists of at least 20 members, only two of -whom aro elected by the Wellington branch. I presume these wero tho .two "seen" by Colonel Hunter. Why doos Colonel Hunter strive to make it: appear that these two members wore acting in an official capacity, as members of the executive on Mr. Atkinson's behalf, whereas, Mr. C. H. Moss, secretary of the: Executive Council, has wired me that the matter of the appointment is "beyond the jurisdiction of the executive"?

If Colonel Hunter had boon in such a hurry to make tho appointment, why did he not also 'deoni it "an act of courtesy" .to'inform the local branch that it- was already made, and that they need take no further action in the matter?_ Instead of concluding the matter in this way, ho wrote to my brother that' "the position was already filled," when it was quite sufficient for him merely to acknowledge my brother's application. *. Finally, Sir, when Colonel Hunter says that my brother was told that "he would receive every consideration, as ho had 'done his bit' in the Empire's cause," I would ask: Has Colonel Hunter's department "done its bit" in showing preference to a man who has not had service abroad?—l am, etc.,

ROLAND POWELL. Kelburn Avenue, October 25, 1916.

THE CHURCH ARMY A CHANCE TO HELP IN A GOOD , WORK. Sir,—Tho Duke of Hamilton has placed his Lanarkshire seat, Dungayel House, Strathaven, at tho disposal of tho British Government during the war. The Admiralty has requested tho Church Army to transfer its hospital of one hundred beds and staff of nurses and orderlies from the Chateau de Benouville, Caen, Franco, where they have been working under the French Red Cross.. _ The cost of maintenance of the hospital in France was £150 a week, defrayed by special donations for the purpose, so that the work of the Church Army among the poor was not hindered, although this patriotic addition was going on at the same time. The only one of their many social activities at a standstill is the' mission van work. There are seventy odd of these touring the country districts of England, preaohing on the village greens, and helping the vicars in many ways. . Their evangelist conductors are serving the Church Army and their nation, in Franco or Egypt, either as driving C.A. motor ambulances or as having charge of recreation huts or tents. _ Sixty of these are well up to the firing-line, some having been damaged by sbell. fire, while the other forty-two are in Egypt. ■ Acting on. tho request of tho Admiralty, the Rev. Prebendary W. Carlilo, chief of the Church Army, has placed our staff in Scotland as a Naval Auxiliary Hospital. A letter from the Admiral reads:—

"Iron Duke, "July 9, 1916. "My Dear Prebendary Carlile,— I hear that the Church Army Hospital in France has been transferred to Scotland, as a Naval Auxiliary Hospital. I wclcomo its arrival _ very warmly, and feel sure that it will be the means of restoring to health and bringing comfort to many of our sick and wounded. \We derive great benefit from the Church Army Recreation Huts at the naval bases, which aro a very real comfort and blessing to tho men of the Fleet.— Yours very sincerely "J. JBLLICOE."

In addition to "the men of the Fleet," there are 100,000 sailors, mainly from trawler crews, "tough old sea dogs." The Government has taken over about 3000 of their trawlers, which are helping to guard our commerce against German submarines. That Army—or Navy—of men is used to manipulate thoso huge steel nets, which havo been death-traps to many an enemy submarine. They are also used in many ways to assist tho Navy in its ceaseless watch over tho trade routes of the Empire. We aro hoping to assist these bravo men this year again, from our Black Wool Fund, or in other ways. Last season wo were enabled to endow two beds at the hospital for tho twelve months —costing £50 each to maintain. Tho war will, it is foared, continue another year. Thoso of our gallant Jack Tars and trawler men who may havo totiso our hospital will be ohoered by seeing New .Zealand names over the beds, remind;

I ing them thereby that tho Dominion is not only sending men, money, and material, with a. lavish hand, but has also a warm heart for those who are risking their lives at sea, to enable us still to ba able to sing "Britannia Rules the Waves."

The two,beds sot up by this £100 last year were named respectively "The New Zealand Bed" and "The Hawko's Bay Bed," and we feel sure they may be added to, and all kept going, 'till by "standing shoulder to shoulder," we have put down this menaco of German militaryism by God's help.

Messrs. Williams and Kettle kindly act as salesmen for the "Church Army War Hospital Fund," and will gladly receive black or other wool; or skins for sale on account- of this patriotic and philanthropic organisation of the Church during this, their sixth black wool season. —I am, etc., F. W. WHIBLEY, Hon.. Sec. Church Army in N.Z. The Vicarage, Ormondvillo. [Wo need hardly commend the work of the Church Army to our readers, wno no doubt are aware from previoue issues of The Dominion of the admirable service it is rendering. The appeal of the Rev. F. W. Whibley, the New Zealand secretary of the organisation, met with a good response from country settlers and others last year. Soaie of our readers having no black wool or other farm produce to offer, may like to send cash to supplement the funds of the organisation. Such donations will be very welcome, and may be sent to Mr. Whibley at tho Vicarage, Orniondville.]