FOR WOMEN MATERNITY CASES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 162, 11 July 1945, Page 3

FOR WOMEN MATERNITY CASES

OBSTETRICS CHAIR

WOMEN TO HELP PROJECT

"The sum required is £100,000. The lives saved and the benefits obtained will far exceed that sum," said the Mayoress, Mrs. J. A. C. Allum, this morning, when she asked representatives of women's organisations throughout the city to assist* in the raising of funds for the establishment of a Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of New Zealand. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall.

Mrs. Allum said that It was well known that through lack of proper and expert attention lives were lost, invalidity for life was caused as well as long periods of incapacitation, all because of the lack of adequate attention at a critical time. Women's organisations all over the Dominion were getting together with the object of supporting the project of endowing such a chair.

Dr. T. R. Plunkett addressed the meeting, stressing the necessity for the establishing of a post graduate Obstetrical and Gynaecological Hospital. He described the course of medical students, who both academic and practical training in medicine and surgery, but little in obstetrics and gynaecology. They had to learn by bitter experience and although they did their very best, many tragedies could occur during that time. Post graduate courses in England would not be readily available to New Zealand doctors for the next two or three years and therefore, during that time New Zealand must train her own post graduate men. There was also, Dr. Plunkett pointed out, the important problem of rehabilitation. During-their war service many men had had no experience in obstetrics and gynaecology and it was the duty of the people of the country that they should give such men an opportunity of making themselves up to date in these subjects.

AVomen's Health Important "A great deal is spent on animal husbandry," said Dr. Plunkett, "but no real investigation is made into women's troubles." Mr. P. Shaw, chairman of the Auckland Business Men's Obstetrical a*nd Gynaecological Committee, told of the formation of that committee after Dr. Doris Gordon had addressed a meeting of business men in Auckland. The Government had now agreed to erect and establish in Auckland an obstetrical and gynaecological hospital for the purpose of providing more maternity accommodation. His committee was concerned in. the establishment of a Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at that hospital. The professor to that Chair would be a man who would lift the whole standard of maternity and gynaecological services through New Zealand. He would be an independent man, appointed by the University of New Zealand; a man who was acceptable to the British Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in London. . The meeting decided unanimously to wholeheartedly support the project to raise £100,000 for the endowment of a Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. A women's committee of eight was set up, with power to add to theor numbers.