NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 284, 30 August 1945, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Few organizations reflect more clearly the unselfish public-spiritedness of a large section of New Zealanders than the Dominion’s branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, which has been operating here for the past sixteen years. Maintained purely by public subscriptions, the society has undertaken a wide range of clinical and research work which, as the president reported at the annual meeting this week, is now bringing its reward. Speaking generally of the cancer problem, Sir Janies Elliott said that its elucidation was a prolonged and gradual process, but that every year new facts were being revealed which would “shorten the journey to the final goal.” Cancer has been one of the most baffling diseases of the civilized world. Medical research, more perhaps than any other scientific investigation, cannot be hurried, nor can it be maintained without, the support of an actively interested pulflic. Investigators work mainly behind the scenes, and they rarely produce spectacular results. Nevertheless it is by this means that cures are ultimately devised and the cause of medical science, with its attendant humanitarianism, advanced.

In his annual report to Parliament the Government Librarian states that “the year has been an exceptional one for the wealth of manuscript donations to the library.” Chief among those are the papers of Mr. Justice Richmond, who had played a prominent part in the public life of the colony, and for some years was a member of the Ministry. This collection contains letters from Sir George Grey, Sir Edward Stafford, Sir Frederick Meld, and Mr. Alfred Domett, as well as other documents and diaries. The collection has been deposited by Misses M. and E. Richmond, daughters of the late judge, and the documents have been bound for preservation. Other important gifts include the papers of the Hon. William Kolleston, one of the ablest of the men from Canterbury to hold high office and give direction to the policy of New Zealand over a lengthy period. There are also the papers of Dr. Featherston, who was for 18 years Superintendent of Wellington Province, held ministerial portfolios in the 'sixties, and was Agent-General in London from 1871 to 187 G. The Minister of Rehabilitation has presented the journal of his grandfather, who was a missionary in the Taupo district in the late ’forties. These and many donations, some from overseas, will make the official collection of much greater value, and provide means for the study of the early history of the Dominion. Nev Zealanders, on the whole, have been careless in their dealings with ol< documents, and some valuable collections have been dispersed or lost. Therare. however, still some in private hands that, are of exceptional value and it is to be hoped that they, too, will be deposited in the Government Library, the Turnbull Library, or some other place, for safe-keeping. Their Mwtorical importance must continue to increase.