DR. ENDLETSBERGER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 63, 9 December 1918, Page 5

DR. ENDLETSBERGER

THE TRIP TO ROTORUA CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE In the House of Representatives on Saturday afternoon reference was made again to the temporary release of Dr. Endletaberger, an alien internee, from the camp on Motuihi Island. Tho Minister of Defence Ind been a'skeda question on the subject earlier in the session, and ho had stated in reply that tho German doctor had been released in order that he might attend professionally Mrs. Eayner,. a patient who was in a dangerous condition, nnd who required his ser- • vices. He had been kept under guard. Mr. W. T. Jennings (Taiimarunui) soid ho wished to raise the question again, as statements were being mndo that affected the personal honour of the Minister. He read the following letter, published in tho. Auckland "Herald" over the name of Dr. H. Bertram, of Rotorua :- 1 "In view of misleading information thaD has been given to the public concerning Dr. Endletsborger's visit to Rotorua, the following facts should be placed on record':— (1) Mrs. Eayner had been under my eare for some six weefcs prior to' Endletsborger's visit here. She had never at any time expressed a desire to consult him, nor had any consultation being considered necssary, as Colonels Mills and Herbert, Major Abbott, and Dr. t Price were available in the town. (2) Mrs. Rayner was convalescent for some time before Dr. Endletsberger visited Rotorua. (3) Dr. Endletaberger , arrived on November 23. He came to my houso on November 25. This was the first knowledge I had of his presence in the town. He said that' his object in visiting mo was to deny the rumour that he had visited Mrs. Eayner professionally. He had been 'sent to Rotorua to convalesce after working among the Maori soldier's at Narrow Neck. He only called on Mrs. Rayner socially, as he was staying in the same hotel. The last idea ho had in his mind was to interview Mrs. Rayner professionally, as he knew that I was atte.nding her. The brief interview with him at my door . then terminated. He left Rotorua the following morning, and as far as I am aware, he has never attended Mrs. Eayner in any professional capacity. ~ . (4) As Dr. Endletaberger waß interned about April, 1916, it is obvious that he could not have attended any patients for two nnd a half years. This fact was not con-, sidered by the authorities as, sufficient reason to coll for an inquiry as to whether Dr. Endletsberger's presence was necessary or desired by my patient. \ The Minister of Defence said that the • statements he , had made, as far as ho still knew, were absolutely correct: . ■ • A member: Then Endletsberger is lying? The Minister: "I do not know who'is a liar. .That is nat my business. It is quite clear that somebody has been pulling someone's leg. The statement that Endletsberger has. been employed at ■ Narrow Neck Camp; is absolutely and totally incorrect as far as I know. He has not been at Narrow. Neck Camp, and therefore did not go to Rotorua for any purpose-in connection with that. The information that onme to me, as far as I know, is corrcot." The Minister added that it had been reported to him (hat Mrs. Rayner was seriously ill, and that the services of Dr. Endletsberger, who had attended her previously, we're needed to save her life. He consulted the Director-General of Medical Services, who said that as the armistice had been signed he saw no reason why the German doctor should not be allowed to go down to Rotorua if he were guarded. The Hon. Dr. Pomare said the message to the Minister.of Defence on the subject had come through him. He had been rung up from Auckland on the subject. Mr. Rayner had said that his wife was seriously ill, that Dr. Endletsberger had been their family doctor for a number of years, and understood her better than anybody else. Tho Eayners were Canadians. Mr. Rayner appealed to have the doctor sent to Rotorua, and offered to pay all expenses. "Wo have allowed Germans to come off the island and be treated on shore in order to save German lives," said Dr. Pomare. "and I thought it was right 'to give facilities for the life of a British subject to be saved, even if it was saved by a German. Is it a crime to do good, to save life? •Some people are mnking capital out of !{;• I wll take the whole responsibility if that wtll satisfy anybody. They can blame me nq much as they like. But to-morrow I would- do it again under the same circumstances to save life especially British life."