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Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 January 1926, Page 5

The steady increase in cancer is causin'l' much concern, savs the Melbourne Age. At a meeting of the Health Commission, the chairman (Dr. Robertson) suggested that it might be advisable for the Commission to consider making th e disease notifiable. Commenting on this statement, and the somewhat alarming figures relative to the increase of the disease, the Minister of Health (Mr Argyle) said it was known that the increase of cancer in the 'ast ten years had been steady, while the decrease in death from tuberculosis had been in about the same ratio to the cancer increase. At the present tim e an Investigation was being carried out by Dr. Cherry, ,of the University, to see if there was any corelation between the causation of the inet ease of cancer and the decrease in tuberculosis. Mr Argyle said he had always maintained that the increased mortality from cancer was not as important to the community as other diseases; -not that lie was not appreciative of' the serious nature of the disease; but it only attacked old peop’e wlm had practically done their life’s work. AVe could do. nothing until we had some information as to the causation of the disease. There were other diseases of which we knew the causes, and we knew they were seriously affecting the community. We were not making proper use of the knowledge iic had of these diseases, which in-b-ded T. 8., diphtheria, maternity (mortality, and infant mortality. We had tremendous work to perform in dealing with, these diseases, which were preventable.