A CORDIAL WELCOME

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1932, Page 11

A CORDIAL WELCOME

The Hon. J. A. Young (Minister of ±J.eaitn) and members of tho local branch of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society entertained Professor Dawson at luncheon to-day and extended to him a cordial welcome. Dr. T. P. Corkill (viee-preaident of the society)", presided, and there were also present Dr. M. H. Watt (Director-General of Health), Dr. J. S. Elliott (editor New Zealand "Medical Journal"), Dr. W. Young (member of the Nurses and Widwives' Begistration'Board), Dr. G. F. V. Anson (president,: Wellington branch. British Medical Association), and tho following members of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society: Drs. L. Levy L A Line, T. Noel Usher, Gordon AndersoiK L. Myers, S. D. Rhind, Agnes Bennett, Sylvia G. Chapman, and lan B. Ewart Dr. Doris Gordon (Stratford) sent an apology for unavoidable absence Dr. T. F. Corkill said it was a great pleasure at what was an informal gathering to extend a welcome to Professor Dawaon on his arrival in New Zealand. His coming marked a further step in the accomplishment of a great project —the establishment of a full-time professorial Chair of Obstetrics at tho Qtago University and Medical School. He was sure the step now being taken would be of great benefit to New Zealand. Professor Dawson had had large English experience ana was familiar with the practice in a sister Domin-

The Hon. J. A. Young saia that on behalf of the Government he heartily coined in the welcome to Professor Datvson. As Minister of Health he was now—as ho had been in previous years when ho held the same office—keenly interested in maternal welfare He could assure Professor Dawson that the Health Department was also most interested in a question which was of such vital importance to the country. The good record of Holland and the Scandinavian -countries in maternity welfare would he hoped be attained, if not improved upon, by this country, which had established fino records in varioiis branches of public health. The Minister said it would be interesting to hear whether Professor Dawson thought the statistical methods of Holland and other countries in regard to maternal welfare were really comparable with the statistical methods of New Zealand.

Professor Bernard Dawson, iv reply, said he was moat gratified afc the cordial reception which had been given to him. Alluding to the remarks of the Minister of Health, Dr. Dawson said that ho had recently visited Holland and the Scandinavian countries which had such good records according to the statistics now well known throughout tho world. Professor Dawson remarked that, as tho result of inquiries, he was 'convinced that any attempt to compare international statistics in respect to maternal welfare was not only most misleading but was also unjust. Unless one got private advice from the statistical bureaux of the different countries one was apt to come to erroneous conclusions. He hoped to deal with this and other questions at a later date when lie had time to more thoroughly study tho matter. He was of opinion that «ew Zealand statistical methods were thorough, and the basis of comparison with that of other countries in respect to maternal mortality was unreliable, and the position in New Zealand was 2crhajj3 bettor than, some flight suppose.