NEW MEDICAL OFFICER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 54, 1 February 1938, Page 7

NEW MEDICAL OFFICER.

DR COOK ARRIVES. ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. In connection with the important developments in the administration or the activities of the Health Department in Palmerston North and the adjacent districts, as a result of which the city has become the administrative centre 'of the large area comprising the newlv-established Wellington-Ha wke s Bay‘Health District, Mr J. Hodgens, M.P.. informed the “Standard” today that he had been advised by the Minister of Health (Hon. P. Fraser) of the local change. It had been decid ed that Dr Duncan Cook, medical officer of health at Wliangarei, he appointed to administer the WelhngtonHawke’s Bay area from Palmerston North. „ . . . Dr Cook has already arrived in the city and commenced liis new duties today. The area under his control comprises the counties of Patea, Waitotara, Waimarino, Wanganui, Kangitikei, Kiwitca, Poliangina. Oroua, Manawatu, Kairanga, Horowhenua, Woodvillo, Weber. Dannevirke, Waipukurau, Patangata Waipawa, and Hawke s Bay and all boroughs and contiguous town districts. . , Dr Cook will also act as school medical officer, with assistants at Napier and Wanganui, and with the co-opera-tion of the health inspectors of the district. The schools have, for two or three years, been short-staffed m respect of medical officers, but the Minister has stated that he believes the appointment of Dr Cook to Palmerston North will mean that the district under his control will have a service a long away ahead of that expenenced in recent rears. “Dr Cook has exceptional qualifications and the Minister and the department are particularly fortunate to get a man of his calibre,” Mr Hodgens stated to-day. Bv his appointment it was anticipated that the needs of the district would be met in a more satisfactory manner. ■