MOTHER’S CHAIR FUND.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 March 1930, Page 3

MOTHER’S CHAIR FUND.

MEDICAL ORGANISER’S RETURN.

After travelling New Zealand from Auckland to Invercargill in the interests of the Obstetrical Society’s appeal in connection with the establishment of a Chair of Midwifery at the Otago University, Dr. Doris Gordon returned to Stratford last week. During the last 5i -weeks Dr. Gordon has been travelling in Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Mariawatu, and the South Island in connection with the appeal movement.

The greater part of the journey was made by ear which Dr. Gordon drove herself. The strenuous nature of her trip can be gauged from the fact that Dr. Gordon often travelled as far as 200 miles per day addressing as many as three meetings a day* A HUMAN DYNAMO. Her average day’s work > commenced at 6.30 a.m. and ended at 11.30 p.m., and when all this is taken into consideration it will be realised there are plenty of reasons for a Wanganui paper describing her as “the human dynamo.”

Dr. Doris Gordon told the Stratford Post that she had n6t intended taking her car beyond Wellington, but one of the chief supporters of the movement, realising that motor travel would save a great deal of time and enable much more to be done, paid the shipping charges on the car to the South Island and back. This was in addition to a Substantial donation towards the quota in his own area. MOKE CENTRES ORGANISED.

“As a result of this,” said Dr. Gordon, “apart altogether from the comfort in travelling, I was able to organise centres on my way through which under other circumstances, I should have had difficulty in reachingI. refer to such places as Cheviot, Kaikoura, etc. I had remarkably good luck with my ear, and encountered only three punctures on the whole trip. 1 had no engine trouble at all.” ENTHUSIASM AND INTEREST.

“Oh yes, it was hard work,” she proceeded in answer to .a question, “I feel amply repaid for it, by the cm tlmsiasb, and spontaneous interest of all tliose with whom I came into contact. The women were most eager to do all possible It was most encouraging! ’ ’ "Women in small towns hearing that I would be passing through, asked me to stop and address them on the movement, and they are all working hard. - ’ RETURNS IN SOOK Dr. Gordon went on to say that the Committees are all hard at work, and within a short time the returns should be coming to hand. It is hoped the funds will all bo in by the end /of March, but of course some of the places just recently organised such as the South Island, may be delayed. The movement has the support. cf all the leading doctors in the Dominion, a few of those to give active support being, Sir Garrick Robertson, Mr Kenneth McKenzie, Dr. C. E. McGuire of Auckland, Sir 11. Lin do Ferguson (Dunedin), and Dr. W. E. Herbert, Wellington. The Taranaki and Wanganui divisions of the British Medical Association are so much in support of the appeal that they have given lump sums. Naturally the places organised first arc first, with their returns, said the Doctor, and I am very pleased to be able to say that the West Coast district of the Wellington provinces is doing splendidly. This district is ■ the krst from which genera! returns are being received and to date the position of funds raised is;—Wanganui £3BO, New Plymouth £3bo, Palmerston North £2BO, pVlarton £l3O. All are still going strong. In a few days we hope ‘o progress reports from other centres. ’ ’ Dr. Gordon carried a typewriter and office equipment with her. She speaks in glowing terms of the great assistance she received from all, and the help given by the medical profession, the Press ami Broadcasting Co.