CANCER RESEARCH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 158, 20 June 1935, Page 8

CANCER RESEARCH

Appeal for Public Interest NEED OF ASSISTANCE “We want to equip a hospital so that both rich and poor alike may havo the very best scientific treatment that is available,” said Dr. W. Reeve, of Havelock North, during a concert held in Havelock North last evening in aid of the King’s Jubilee Gift Fund for Cancer Research in New Zealand. “In this cause,” he added, “I ask you to give your deepest interest, and help with the very greatest generosity.”

It was unfortunate, said the doctor, that cancer was increasing dreadfully among the civilised races in spite of all attempts to stem its progress. One reason was that cancer was a disease of middle-age only, and one of the ironies of our progress was that more people were attaining iniddle-ago than ever before. The incidence of the disease was therefore increasing accordingly. Cancer had to be fought in two ways; by treating existing cases and by preventive means. Surgery, X-rays, and radium treatment were among the methods available, and surgery was still the most valuable means. However, it had its limitations. X-ray treatment was expensive, and radium, as everyone knew, was the most costly thing in the world. “Science,” he said, “means money, and very much money.” Though the process of research was being carried on patiently, many people seemed to think that the medical profession should by this time have found the cause of the disease. People who thought that way could not possibly know what a tremendously difficult task it was. “Some of the finest brains in the world,” the doctor added, “are given up wholly to this work of research. There is no finer man in the world than the man who is doing scientific work of this kind. He is inspired by a desire to help mankind, and to find the truth at any cost; and usually he is grossly underpaid.”

SUM FROM TRAVIS ESTATE

Large Amount Accumulated By Telegraph —Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. Mr William Travis died on June 21, 1927, leaving a considerable estate to be devoted to cancer and tuberculosis research. The income from the estate is approximately £2OOO a year, and expenditure has been at the rate of £5OO a year. The accumulation now exceeds £ll,OOO.

These fqcts were brought out in the Supreme Court to-day when the trustee, Herbert Pearce, retired contractor, Christchurch, applied to the Court for permission to spend £1753 from the estate on extending a building belonging to the estate leased to W. B. Toomey, brass founder. The trustee’s application was adjourned so that he could have a conference with the lessee. When His Honour learned of the accumulated surplus of £ll,OOO he askca, “how does that come about.”

Mr Malley, counsel for Pearce, said that the trustee had not been able to find a suitable outlet for the money. He and medical experts, with whom he had consulted, had difficulty in deciding in what direction to spend the money. His Honour: How much has been spent!

Mr Malley: The expenditure has been chiefly on radium, but Pearce is informed that there is a sufficient supply at the hospital for two years. A physicist for research is employed at £5OO a year.

His Honour: It seems that the question arises: Is the trustee really fuli tilling his trust? Mr Malley: He has power to accumulate. His Honour: But it seems to me a serious matter to have this accumulation when cancer is alarming the community to such an extent, and this money could have been used in alleviation. In evidence, Pearce replied to His Honour that he had not nominated three men to act with him in administering the estate as provided in the will. It was stated in the will that the trustee “may appoint,’’ and as he was an old friend of the testator he thought he personally could carry out the testator’s wishes much better.