COCKTAIL PARTY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 175, 26 July 1944, Page 3

COCKTAIL PARTY

WOMEN DOCTORS MEET The Auckland branch of the New Zealand Women's Medical Association held a cocktail party at the home of Dr. Barbara Roche, Bassett Road, Remuera, yesterday, in honour of Dr. Edith. Summerskill, M.P. The party was an informal one and Dr. Summerskill moved among the guests, chatting to them individually, comparing notes and discussing problems of mutual interest to them as members of the same profession.She considered that London was now, of all places, the most promising centre for women doctors, as prejudice against them there had practicaly ceased to exist. "The farther yoU go north the greater the prejudice against women doctors," said Dr. Summerskill, "and the extarordinary part is that, although mothers in Scotland now think nothing of letting their daughters go in for medicine, they themselves invariably call in a man if they want* medical attention, and refuse to have a woman." The immense progress made by women in the medical profession in Russia, was mentioned by Dr. Summerskill, who said that 70 per cent of the doctors in that country were women.

Twenty-eight women doctors were present, senior members of the profession including Dr. Hilda Northcroft, Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, Dr. Elaine Gurr, Dr. Alice' Bush, Dr. Alexandra Warnock, Dr. Margaret Knight and Dr. Gladys Rowley. Also present was Dr. Jessie Maddison, one of the earliest medical graduates in New Zealand. Dr. Nell Haughton, president of the Auckland branch, welcomed and introduced the visitor.