CONFIDENTIAL
His Honour The Administrator,
DARWIN. N.T.
NORTHERN TERRITORY MEDICAL SERVICE
With reference to the final paragraph of the Department’s memorandum of the 12th December 1938, I have to advise that this can only be construed as my ignominious dismissal from the Northern Territory Medical Service. Having regard to:
- my having given the best years of my life under deplorable conditions to the foundation and development of an efficient Medical Service for the Northern Territory in the belief that such a service is a national necessity;
- my having endured on behalf of the Government, without complaint, year after year, bitter hostility, gross misrepresentation and slanderous abuse;
- the quality of my work until recently having always been valued highly by the Department,
I feel that I am entitled to know
- the reason why I am to be thrown into the discard by the Department of the Interior at this stage,
- what avenue of employment it is proposed should be offered me in the Department of Health.
Since your arrival in the Territory it has, from time to time, been clear that there has been friction between us. On at least two occasions I suggested that our relations indicated that I did not enjoy your confidence. On at least one occasion I offered to resign. At these times you were emphatic in your assurances that I was under a misapprehension and that that you held my ability, attainments and work for the Administration in high regard.
On the occasion of the visit of the Ministerial party I felt my position so keenly that I asked the Secretary, Mr. J.A. Carrodus, to speak frankly to me so that I might consider my position. He assured me I had no ground for believing that I had lost the Department’s confidence. I am therefore utterly at a loss to understand this new development.
When I interviewed you on Monday to ask for the reasons underlying the Minister’s decision you informed me that it was part of the policy intended to apply to all Civil Servants as it was not considered desirable that these should remain for lengthy periods in the Territory. Without admitting the wisdom of this principle, I feel I may reasonably ask why its application should commence with one who has only been here for what may be described as an intermediate period.
I recognise that mine is a temporary appointment which may be terminated by the Minister at any time, but I feel that this method of termination can only be actuated by a desire to remove me on the ground of incompetence or misbehaviour. If I am being removed on the ground of incompetence, I shall be glad to be advised in what direction I have failed. I have not at any time during my service here been charged or reprimanded on this ground; on the contrary I have frequently been complimented by Ministers, including yourself, senior officers of the Department and Administrators.
If I am being removed on the ground of mis-behaviour I shall be glad to be advised in what way I have offended in case I am being made the victim of calumny or misunderstanding. As I have already stated, I admit that the terms of my appointment permit my being dismissed with three months’ notice without any reason being given. This course, however, must inevitably give the public the impression that I am being removed for incompetence, misconduct or both. Unless I am informed of the reasons, speculation will soon provide a grotesque and scurrilous variety. I feel my services to this country have rendered me deserving of less unjust and cavalier treatment.
I ask that further action in the direction of implementing the Department’s policy be deferred until I may state my case to the Minister and I ask with confidence on the ground of my unquestioned loyalty and devotion to duty during the past twelve years.
Cecil Cook
(C.E. Cook)
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
21.12.38