REMAINING ABROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 109, 4 November 1939, Page 8

REMAINING ABROAD

OBSTETRICAL STUDENTS

POSITION DEPLORED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Dayi "Under scholarships endowed by the women of New Zealand eleven New Zealand obstetrical students of outstanding promise have gone abroad for training since 1928 and only one has; returned to practise obstetrics and the j treatment of women's diseases In the Dominion. Three of the latest scholars are still in the process of completing j their English training," said Dr. Doris j Gordon, of Stratford, honorary secretary of the New Zealand Obstetrical j and Gynaecological Society, who has returned to New Zealand after twelve months' absence overseas. j She was deputed, by the society to interview New Zealand students who have preferred to remain in England, j "The executive is gravely concerned," j she said, "because the scholarships are ; failing in their foundation purpose toj bring back to the Dominion doctors I .highly trained in all recent advances of women's disorders and obstetricians thoroughly conversant with all modern methods of pain relief in labour." Dr. Gordon added that under the new terms scholarship students proceed first to a women's hospital in Melbourne and afterwards to England, where they find their title, "New Zealand Obstetrical Scholar," an open sesame to the most coveted residential posts in England. "The failure to return, is akin to the failure of Rhodes Scholars to return, with the difference that in this instance the endowment was given by thousands of humble New Zealand women to better the lot of the mothers in the Dominion who succeed them," said Dr. Gordon. "It appears that the money given is merely being used to provide England, with specialists." Two courses of remedial action had presented themselves to the society, said Dr. Gordon. The first and most logical was to abolish certain obsolete conditions prevailing in New Zealand, and the second was to make it compulsory for scholarship students to return to New Zealand.