MATERNAL WELFARE

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 January 1930, Page 8

MATERNAL WELFARE

OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY’S SCHEME HAW ERA’S ORGANISATION. Th© scheme for providing endowment funds for “*the obstetrical department of the Medical School of Otago, which lias been set on foot by the New Zealand Society of Obstetrics, a branch of the 8.M.A., has met with a wonderful response from all centres in the North Island go far approached. The hon. secretary, Dr. Doris Gordon, of Stratford, addressed a gathering of women in Hawera yesterday, and among those present were members of the, Women’s National Reserve, Plunket Society, Women’s Club and the women’s division of the Farmers’ Union. Mrs E. A. Pacey, Mayoress, presided, and in a few brief remarks introducing the speaker, expressed her pleasure at seeing so many present from all parts and so many institutions represented. Dr. Gordon, in her opening remarks, said the Obstetrical Society included about 200 members of the medical profession and was concerned with the problem of decreasing maternal mortality, and with this end in view wished to found the Chair of Midwifery at Otago University. At-pres-ent, she added, there was no such institution at which doctors could specialise, and this was a grave disability in the life of the country. It was necessary to keep up to date in such matters, and at present there was no chair e of securing a post-graduate obstetric: course. It was in every way a national need, slie added. Tlie want of the necessary funds kept New Zea-j land behind the times, for there was, no possibility at present of securing a j first-class man. and there would not be until the finance was provided that would enable us to secure men of the standing and experience such as there were in Melbourne and Sydney. Dr. Gordon said that the Government had now granted a sum of £50,000 for an up-to-date and thoroughly equipped hospital for midwifery in Dunedin, and that was an earnest of their determination to help to reduce the mortality among women and to reduce the disabilities which are suffered at present. But, she said, there were many exoenses in running

Wtt'i u vv ci’c nullify ah a imiLi such a hospital, apart from the salary of the professor in charge, and if New Zealand was not to fall behind other countries an endowment fund of £25.000 must he found. This was the reason for the appeal to be made in March to the people of the Dominion. The New Zealand Obstetrical Society, backed by the Medical College authorities, had set- the scheme in motion and was appealing to the women of the Dominion, especially to all the women’s organisations, for help. It had also behind it the approval of Queen Mary in the efforts to lessen maternal mortality. Lady Alice Fergusson had given her and so far the most influential women in every centre cordially and readily promised assistance, while the women’s institutions had given splendid support. The scheme was to get as many large subscriptions as possible and also to so organise that in every centre ’ each woman could give something, whatever she could afford. This, the speaker said, would enable women to give from their own resources, but no doubt the larger subscriptions would) come from the generous assistance to be given by the men. She added that the men had shown a very cordial approval of the scheme. The sum of £25,000 had been divided roughly into four amounts of £7500 each from Auckland and Wellington and £SOOO each from Canterbury and Otago. It had been decided to begin in the north with the preliminary campaign and work done t,o Otago and Southland. The amounts were fixed roughly on a population basis. The medical faculty considered it necessary, she said, to have a professor on full time, and by this means students could secure the special training needed to give their best in this most important part of the medical profession and so help in the life of the nation. Committees had been organised, said Dr. Gordon, in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and New Plymouth, and by March it was hoped to have them in every centre of the Dominion, so that the universal publicity needed might begin simultaneously, and so secure the amount required by a brief and thoroughly organised campaign. This was considered the best and most effertive method of working such an appeal. At the conclusion Dr. Gordon fully and clearly answered several questions, and'a hearty of thanks was accorded her by acclamation, on the motion of Mrs Pacey. After the meeting concluded a strong committee, representing several centres and organisations, was elected as follows: chairwoman, Mrs W. M. Winks'; treasurer and acting secretary, Mrs J. W. J. Harding; committee, Mesdames White, W. Good, E. S. Emmitt, O’Dea, Smitheram (Hurleyville), R. G. Sinclair, Yelvin, E. A. Pacey, W. Jobs on, J. N. Henry. It was decided to leave place for four more, two each from the Women’s Club and from the women’s division of the Farmers’ Union and to get representatives from the other main centres. A further meeting will be held on Thursday, January 30, in order to make preliminary arrangements for the campaign in South Taranaki.