B.M.A. AND APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 57, 8 March 1930, Page 13

B.M.A. AND APPEAL

RUMOURS DENIED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

PALMERSTON N., 7th March

A statement having been circulated that members of the . Now Zealand branch of the British Medical Association were opposed to : the - Dominionwide appeal now being made to endow a Chair of Midwifery at the .' O.tago Medical School, the matter was referred to by Di\ Doris. Gordon, secretary and organiser of the fund, in the course of an interview here. Dr. Gordon said there was no truth in the statement iff circulation that doctors did not approve tho obstetrical endowment appeal. In February,; 1929, during the annual conference of the 8.M.A., the whole assembly of Now Zealand graduates of medicine passed a unanimous - resolution urging on tho Government the immediate necessity of establishing anew obstetric hospital in Dunedin. as a first step towards efficiency in this department, and already two' divisions of the B.M.A.—namely, Wanganui and. Taranaki—have given liberally to the endowment fund. Any criticism circulating must . therefore have originated from doctors who are Kriduates of English universities,. and who are not conversant with local needs and conditions., ' ... Dr. Gordon also stated that there was no truth in the statement that officials of the cancer campaign .were in any way opposed to the^ obstetrical appeal. All of them were the warmest supporters of Mr.' Victox .Bonney when he visited New Zealand in 1928 to prepare the way. for this obstetric appeal, and had assured him that the_ improvements he advocated in the midwifery department would soon be made possible iv New .Zealand. 'Moreover, officials of the cancer campaign, knowing the obstetrical appear has been ponding for four years,-and that the obstetrical department-of tho medical school has for the/last five years fallen below the standard of eftciehey. set/by the Central Medical Council of Great Britain, admit that the: obstetric appeal is most urgent, and have ..kindly deferred their appeal in some districts in' favour of the obstetrical appeal. It was generally understood ,tha,t the cancer appeal should;-receive . substantial assistance from the Travis Bequest for cancer research in.New Zealand,,-and there was not the least.rivalry between these two humanitarian.appeals. : ;As the Queen's, -advisers' had. -lookpd tb oroughly in to' all, nia'Uers concerning th i- obstetrical appeal before they .'submitted the movement-to Her Majesty's consideration', her recent'cable message expressing her personal, interest ' ml the appeal and good wishes- for its full sv.ccess established.beyond all question the urgency of the .midwifery appeal.