NEW DEPT. AT OTAGO

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30091, 27 March 1963, Page 7

NEW DEPT. AT OTAGO

Opening By Governor (NZ. Press Association) DUNEDIN, Mandi M. Tbe Governor-General (Sir Bernard Fecgusson) yeaterday officially opened the Wellcome Medical Research Institute. a new research department for the University of Oiago Medical School. He said that as GovernorGeneral be bad all kinds of jobs to do but this one gave him particular pleaoure for a personal reason. Sir Bernard Fergusaan said he bad learnt something of research as chairman of an appeal committee in Scotland raising money for the Fleming Mamorial Research Fund. “For the first time in my life I learnt something of medical research and about the price you pay to achieve results,” be said.

He spoke of the research work of Sir Alexander Fleming in discovering l penicillin. Although penicillin was discovered in 1928 it was not exploited until 12 years later, said Sir Bernard Fergusson. “The tragedy was caused through the lack of funds to carry out research,” he said. “God alone knows how many lives were lost and how much unnecesjap’ suffering was borne during the 12 years in which the development of penicillin languished.”

Sir Bernard Fergu=son said that he now appreciaites more than he would have done two years ago the great munificence of the Wellcome Trust in providing the money for the new building.