RESEARCH IN MEDICINE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 10

RESEARCH IN MEDICINE

WORK IN N.Z. TO BE COORDINATED AIMS AND PERSONNEL OP NEW COUNCIL TI'BEKCI'LOSIS AMOM; MAORIS TO RECEIVE ATTENTION [From Our Parliamentary RcportcrJ WELLINGTON. January 23. The personnel and aims of the new Medical Research Council, which the Government has set up to co-ordinate medical research work in the Dominion, were announced by the Minister for Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) in an interview on Saturday. This new organ, isation has already held its first meeting, and the Government attaches a great deal of importance to its future work.

The members of the council as announced by the Minister are as follows: —Professor C. E. Hercus and Dr. Muriel Bell, as representatives of the Faculty of Medicine ia the University of Otago; Sir Donald McGavin and Dr. P. P. Lynch, as representatives of the British Medical Association; Sir James Elliott and Dr. R. R. D. Milligan, two medical men chosen by the Government; Dr. C. E. Marsden, Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Indus, trial Research, and Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, as departmental representatives, with Dr. Watt ex officio acting as chairman. "The new body is closely related to the Board of Health, as it includes all the medical members of that body," said Mr Fraser. "It is also fortunate in so far as Sir James Elliott is president of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, and Sir Donald McGavin is secretary of the New Zealand branch cf the Koyal Australasian College of Surgeons, thus forming valuable links with those organisations and ensurkg their close co-operation."

Functions Specified The Minister said that the functions of the council would be:—(l} To correlate, as far as may be practicable, medical research work ic New Zealand; (2) to recommend what researches and investigates should be undertaken; (3) to appoint separate ?d hoc committees to take charge of each investigation (4) to recommend what amounts money should be allocated for medical research each year and to soggest an apportionment of the amesrd

to tlie separate investigations. J "In the past there has been mop research carried out in New Zealant than was generally realised," saii the Minister. "Many of the acfc ties have not been confined to to Government. It is, however, adrfr able that, to avoid overlapping and needless expense, some centra! body should be set up which wooM undertake the work of correlatrag the various existing researches aai initiating and stimulating net work. It will be for the council to formulate schemes for research aai submit proposals for my consideration.

"I have assured the council tfca> the Government is keenly interests in the subject and will be prepare! to assist to the utmost of its ability," said the Minister. "I have received the report of the fee meeting of the council, and it s apparent that the members are ethusiastic in their new task.

"As a first step, appropriate festers are to be sent to all persons and bodies concerned in medics, research, with a view to secure? their co-operation and inviting thee to submit suggestions for future work.

Local Problems "For the time being the couece has decided very properly to devote its attention mainly to local interest, including nutritiK. goitre, dental diseases, hydatid disease, and tuberculosis. At the cocscil's meeting special reference »"£ made to the incidence of tuberculosis among the Maori P 6o *™: and in view of the high death-rate from this cause it was advocate that special attention should be » voted to this subject, with a view.possible, to lowering the mortal:?! rate.

"Although the council's first meting was necessarily preliminary. 1 very definite start "has been ms# and reports which have been call*: j for will necessitate the holding £\ another meeting in the New Year"lt is the intention of the Government to go as far as possible in ttf direction of making funds availa&* for the various researches «*** will be promoted bv the cojirtct added Mr Frascr. "At the recemeeting a suggestion was made tt*; possibly public-spirited ci £f? might be prepared to assist by be* factions and gifts, and if any;ade? this course they can be assured in* the money will be wisely and carefully expended."