CANCER APPEAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 12

CANCER APPEAL.

ADDITIONAL FUNDS SOUGHT. AUCKLAND PROVINCE CAMPAIGN. To raise further funds for the fight against cancer, the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, as president of the Auckland Division of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, has decided to launch a provincial appeal for £1500 for the establishment in Auckland of a Cancer Statistical Research Department. It is intended that the appeal, which was approved at a meeting of the division yesterday afternoon, shall take the form of simultaneous street-day collections in the various local authority districts on Empire Day, May 24, and the active co-operation of mayors and chairman of local authorities is being sought. Work of Divisions. In explaining the object, Sir Ernest stated that the campaign generally was to further the interests of the cancer patient. The four divisions in New Zealand, which had been allocated special duties, applied their funds for the collection of cancer statistics for despatch to England, shared the expense of the cost of the research laboratory in Dunedin, sponsored the local consultation committees, and recorded details of every cancer patient. Auckland to date had not had a special function, but this year had been called on to establish a statistical research department. To carry out this obligation, the Auckland division would require an annual income of £1500. - Sir Ernest added, that in order that Auckland should take its rightful part in the work, it was necessary to launch the suggested appeal for the first year's activities. With a statistical research department in Auckland, a medical man would be available to arrange and classify details collected by the four consultation committees, and generally co-ordinate the work. OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. "Auckland province ;s being afforded an opportunity to serve suffering , humanity, which I feel confident it will take full advantage of," said the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, this morning. "To me, no appeal can have a greater force, because there is no disease striking a more menacing Wow at family life than the scourge of cancer. By comparison with the results calculated to be achieved by the establishment of a statistical research department, the sum the province is being asked to raise is infinitesimal. I believe that it is only necessary for people to know the position to be eager to subscribe." Sir Ernest added that the Red Cross Society, under the president, Mr. T. McXa'b, would be devoting its attention wholeheartedly to the etreet collection day in the city, in conjunction with several other local organisations called together by Lady Davis. As far as the contiguous areas of Auckland were concerned, membere of the Red Cross Society would be available to assist local authorities in the collection on Empire Day. Sir Ernest added that the campaign would be directed from the Red Cross Society's office at 14, Commerce Street, under tile control of the secretary, Mr. A. A. Harker, and from the Town Hall, where Mr. G. S. Roper would act ae assistant secretary to the committee.