Cancer Research

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 August 1930, Page 3

Cancer Research

WELLINGTON, Last Night

The central committee of the cancer campaign organisation in the Dominion decided at a meeting in Wellington today that various divisions should contribute in equal shares to laboratory work at the Otago University and to the general statistical research, but that each division should remain responsible for local cancer clinics, radium purchase and individual activities.

Dr. J. S. Elliott (Wellington) presided and there were also present Sir Louis Barnett, Sir Lindo Ferguson, Drs. D’Ath, Riley, Hercus and Newianda (Dunedin), Drs. Acland, Bilcliff and Mr Newburgh (Christchurch), Dr, Lynch, Messrs P. Fraser and C. M. Luke (Wellington), Mr F. Castle (chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board) and Dr. Watt (Health Department).

The Minister of Health wrote notifying that it was intended to validate contributions by local bodies to the New Zealand division of the Empire Cancer campaign. It was decided to constitute the Dunedin members of the profession a statistical committee and to ask Dr. Bcgg to undertake supervision of the work.

On the motion of Dr. Acland it was decided to request the cancer clinics at the four main hospitals to amplify their statistics by obtaining statistics from subsidiary hospitals in their districts. Considerable discussion took place upon the advisability of inviting Dr. Burroughs, the English authority who had been brought out by the Commonwealth Government, to visit the Dominion. It was eventually decided to ask the Health Department to ascertain whether Dr. Burroughs was prepared to come to New Zealand to report upon radium treatment. Dr. Watt said they had reached that position when they should put the question of finance upon a sound footing. The central committee would come into possession of a considerable fund and they would allocate that fund to the different divisions. Dunedin thought that each division should contribute equally to research and each division should llnd enough for the radium required. Dr. Watt said that Otago and Cantcrbmy hail about £16,000 in hand. The chairman said that Wellington had only about £SOOO in hand and Auckland had about £7OOO. Mr Nowb.ngh said that Canterbury if it received a donation from the Travers trustees would spend that money for local requirements just as Wellington would any donations it might receive. Canterbury was prepared to pay in £SOO a year to the central fund. It was decided that the annual meeting of the ccntial committee should be held in Dunedin in September.