Smith George Marshall Mccall 1918 1928

edmondsallan -hello - This early settler and doctor in Hokianga, certainly had a mind of his own when he wanted to. He also was pretty quick off the mark also when it came to his personal life & companionship .
"George and Barbara " were divorced in February 1921, and on 14 March, in Auckland, he married " Lucy." They were to have a son, John, who died in 1932, and a daughter, Janet. In 1921 Smith was dismissed by the Hokianga Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, which had tired of his hectoring them for improvements. Local opinion was aroused in his favour, however, and the dismissal was not implemented. Thereafter Smith became the dominant figure in the public life of the district. With the onset of the 1930s depression he became an ardent advocate of Douglas Social Credit.
In his primitive and isolated practice Smith placed emphasis on the important role played by nurses, and trained Lucy to be his anaesthetist. He berated the conservatism of other doctors, and was responsible for a number of innovations, including having nurses gowned, masked and gloved to prevent cross-infection; using cod-liver oil and Vaseline as a dressing; and using Nembutal for painless childbirth. He earned the respect of the Maori community through his concern for their welfare. In the mid 1920s Smith persuaded the board to build a new hospital. He was largely responsible for its planning and raised money for its equipment through a variety of means, including a local household tax and an illegal casino. When the new 40-bed hospital opened in 1928 it was reported to be the most up-to-date in New Zealand. Even today he is well remembered for his actions to assist the people of Hokianga to have Good health and facilities to do so '. Till we meet again - Regards -edmondsallan