A GERMAN DOCTOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1918, Page 2

A GERMAN DOCTOR.

'X£MPOBARt RELEASE FROM,,, rgl INTERNMENT. j A QUEER BUSINESS. - (From Our Own Correspondent.)' Wellington, Dec. 7. In the House of Representatives this afternoon reference -was made again to the temporary release of Dr. Endletsberger, a German internee, from the camp on Motuihi Island. The Minister for Defence had been* asked a question on the subject- • earlier in the session, and he had stated that the German doctor had been released in order that he might attend professionally Mrs. Rayner, a patient who was in a dangerous condition and xvho required Tils services. He had been kept .under guard. Mr. W. T. Jennings (Taumarunui) said he wished to raise the question again, as statements were belig made that affected the - personal honor of the Minister. He read the following letter, published in the Auckland Herald over the name of Dr. H, Bertram, of Rotorua:—" "Tn view of misleading information that has been given to the public concerning 'Dr. Endletsberger's visit to Rotorua, the following facts should be placed on record:—■( 1) Mrs. Ravner had been under my care for some six weeks prior to Endletsberger's visit here. She had never at any time expressed, a desire to nonsuit liini. nor had any consultation been considered necessary, as Colonels Mills and Herbert, Major Abbott, and Dr Price were available in . the town. (•21 Mrs. Rayner was convalescent for come time before Endletsberger visited Rotorua. (3) Dr Endletsberger arrived on November 23. He came'to my house on November 25. This was the first, knowledge I had of his presence in the A«\vn. IIi! said that his object in' Visiting me was to deny the rumor that he l>'M vMtod Mrs. Ravner professionally. ■He had 'been. sent to Rotorua to convalesce after working among the Maori soldiers at Narrow Neck. He only called on Mrs. Rayner socially, as he was staying in the same' hotel. The last idea he had in his mind was to interview Mrs. Rayner professionally, as lie knew that I was :ittending 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 Rayner in any professional capacity. (4) As Endletsberger was interned about April, 1910, it is ob. vious that he could not have attended any patient for two and a half years, This fact was not considered by the authorities as sufficient reason to call for an inquiry as to whether Endletsberger's presence was necessary or desired by my wifcient." The Minister for Defence said that the statements he has made, as far as he st.ill knew, were absolutely correct. A member: Then Endletsberger is lying! The Minister: T do not know who is a liar. That is not 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 came to me. as far as I know, is correct. The Minister, added that it had -been reported to him that Mrs. Rayner was seriously ill and that the services of Dr. Endletsberger, who had attended her previously, were need"d to save her life. He consulted the DirectorjHeneral 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 lie were guarded. The Hon. Dr- Pomare said the message to the Minister for Defence on the subject had come through-him. ' He had been rung up from Auckland on the sif>jeet. Mr. Rayner had said that his wife was seriously ill, that Dr. Endletsberger had been their fnmilv doctor for a number of years, and understood her better than anybody else. The Rayners were Canadians. Mr. Ravner appealed to nave the doctor sent to Rotorua, and offered to pay all expenses. "We have allowed Germans to come off the island and he 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 ft German Ts it a crime to do good, to save life? Rome people arc making capital out of it. T will take the whole recnonsibility if that will, satisfy anybody They can blame me as much as they like. But, to-morrow I would do it n?am under the same circumstances to save life, especially British life."