HIGH AMBITION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 102, 24 January 1930, Page 10

HIGH AMBITION

CHAIR OF MIDWIFERY Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, January 23. Inquiries made locally in respect to a message from Christchurch announcing the inauguration of a movement for the establishment of a chair of midwifery at Otago University show that the Obstetrical Society of New Zealand met some time ago and discussed the expiration of term of engagement of the present professor of midwifery and obstetrics at Otago University in a year’s time. The appointment of a new professor will then be necessary and the desire of the Obstetrical Society is for the university to engage a distinguished man whose whole time .will be devoted to the duties as professor and to the materntiy hospitals to which he Will be attached. To obtain a full-time man of undoubted qualifications the society considers that a salary of £2OOO per annum should be offered—au unheard of salary in , professional ranks in the Dominion. The professor will not be allowed any outside practice. , Society’s Plans. In order to bring about the desired appointment the Obstetrical Society started a campaign and one of its members toured Auckland to raise a part of the fund of £25,000 proposed to be raised from the public. The Government has promised a subsidy of £25,0(10 and the income from the fund will ensure a salary of £2OOO being available. The fund now started in Christchurch is a continuation of the campaign beguu in the Auckland district. “A similar campaign will shortly be conducted in Otago so as to make the effort a Dominion-wide one,” said a leading Dunedin medical man who has made a special effort to place the chair of midwifery and gynaecology on a substantial footing. The Council of the University College of Otago had not yet discussed the appointment of a professor at the big salary, said the doctor, but it would not be'likely to turn down an offer of £2OOO yearly from the public of New Zealand. The salary would attract a man of undoubted qualifications and ability. It was debatable whether the appointee should be tied down to professional and hospital work’ nlone. In London, professors had been similarly restricted and doubt was now being expressed whether their being debarred from private practice was wise. The New Zealand Obstetrical Society had decided that the restriction was necessary and the medical faculty of the university had recommended that a whole-time professor be encafjed. “Tlie Professorial Board has not yet considered the question, but some of the professors will doubtless have to say, as most of them are whole-time men getting only'£9oo yearly,” said the doctor; “but I am sure the University Council would be agreeable to offering them £2OOO yearly if the public raised the fund to subsidise the salaries.”