THE MEDICAL CONGRESS. OPENING OF ITS SESSION.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 62, 15 March 1898, Page 6

THE MEDICAL CONGRESS. OPENING OF ITS SESSION.

The annual Congress of the New Zealand "branch of the British Medical Association ■was opened at the Museum lecture-room this morning. Those present and expecting to be present •were — Dr. Cleghorn. of Blenheim (President) ; Drs. Fell, Young, Grace, Cahill, Tff.ire, Mackin, Pollen, Collins, Purdy, and Chappell, all of Wellington ; Drs. Barnett (Dunedin), Porter (Richmond), Monckton (Feilding), Roberts and Mackie (Nelson), Symes (Christchurch), Pabst (Auckland), Hosking (Masterton), Saunders ( Wanganui), Bey (Greytown), Palmer (Featherston), Martin (President Wellington section), Perkins (Secretary Wellington section), Fyffe (Secretary of the Council), and Camphell (General Secretaiy). The President submitted the report; of the Council, which stated that the Parliamentary Committee appointed at the last annual meeting to approach the Government on the subject of the proposed amendment to the Public Health Act reported that a satisfactory arrangement had been come to in reference to the matter. The club circular had been sent to all the members of the profession practising in the colony, and 108 answers had so far been received. The Council congratulated the Branch on a most successful year. There had been an increase in the membership of 73 during tlie past year making a total of 173 members now on the roll, with a near prospect of a further increase to 200. In accordance with the wishes of the Branch expressed at the ]a9t annual meeting the Council had modified the annual subscription. It was now £1 10s per annum, for which the British Medical Journal was supplied, and there is an additional subscription of 15s due from those "wishing to take the Australasian Medical Gazette. The subject would come up for consideration during the present meetiug. The Council recorded with regret the death of Mr. Ernest Hart, late editor of the Medical Journal. Though ho was not actually the founder of their great Association, yet to his genius and life work the profession was indebted for the building up and welding the Medical Association into the united and powerful body it now "was. The balance-sheet showed a credit to the Branch funds of £15, against which there were a few accounts since incurred. The Counci.l suggested that it have permanent headquarters in Wellington or Christchur.ch. It also suggested the appointment Of a permanent Parliamentary "Secretary. The thanks of the Association were due to the Parliamentary Secretary (Dr. MaF^n, of Otalci), who had carried out the 'iuties of the office with efficiency during the past yoar. Dr. Campbell, in seconding the motion for the adoption of the report, explained ijhat the idea of the Council regarding clerical 'work was to obtain a paid shorthand ai -riter and typewriter. Dr. Grace thought th<j only thing was to make Wellington the headquarters of the section. Di\ Fyffe s: A id the .work had increased a great deal, anc\ he felt sure Dr. Campbell's suggestion as to a stenographer and typewriter was the correct one. Dr. Porter agreed in this. Dr. Campbell suggested that the matter mkjht be postponed till the evening, when tiiej Auckland members would be present. It was eventually decided, on, the motion of Dr. Fyffe, that the bylaws "be altered in thft direction of appointing a permanent Secretary, also a Secretary to tl ie Council, ■with power to employ clerical assistance, more especially to fully -report meetings of the Council for the benefit of the various sections. It was decided to postpone until the arrival aj. the Auckland members the ques- j tion of fixing per'.naneut bead-quarters of the | branch. Dr. Mason • AVa3 appointed permanent Parliamentary "itepresentative, with a recommendation ' ooho hhh a t ne k e au ex ojfido member of the Cor inc j]. Dr. Cl jghorn at this stage left the chair, and way succeeded by the new President, Dr. Fell. Dr . Symes, of Christchaircb, read a paper on "-A New CD. Act 'for New Zealand, ■with Remarks on the Morality of Such Legislation." A discussion followed, during ■which the opinion was generally expressed that a CD. Act was necessaiy in the interest of the health of the public. It ■was. decided tha.t the paper read by Dr. Symes imd a paper by Dr. Fulton, of Christc- hurch, should be referred to the 1 ( C6unv',il, the Parliamentary representatives, 'and /Jr. Symes to draw up a report thereon for submission to the next annual meeting. f Dr. Symes said he had. hoped the Medical 'Association would have expressed an opinion at as early a date as possible upon tbis subject of contagious diseases. A vote of thanks was given to Dr. Symes for his paper. Dr. Collins (Wellington) read a paper on " A case of extraction of a gall stone from the common duct." A vote of thanks was accorded to him for the paper. The Congress adjourned till 3 o'clock this afternoon.