PURCHASE OP RADIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20254, 14 May 1929, Page 10

PURCHASE OP RADIUM.

FUND AT INVERCARGILL.

REQUEST TO PRIME MINISTER.

[bx TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, Monday. A deputation from the Otago Hospital Board waited on the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, this morning to place before him a question in connection with a sum of £3600 which was raised in Invercargill some years ago for the purchase of radium, but which had not been used for that purpose.

Sir Louis Barnett said the money was raised in answer to an appeal from Dunedin for the purpose of-supplying tlie Dunedin Hospital, as a base hospital, with radium. It was understood that as a result of the collection the Southland people would benefit by the establishment of the radium department at the Dunedin Hospital, and would be treated on the same basis as Dunedin patients. The department decided that there should not be more than four centres supplied with radium.

The Invercargill people later said they would not give the money, but would make it a fund for the expenses of people who came to Dunedin for treatment. A short Act was passed putting the money into a trust fund, and there it had been for four or five years with accumulated interest. The trustees themselves were now dissatisfied with the way the money was being expended. The fund had grown to about £4400. What was now desired was permission to purchase radium with the money on the condition that the radium purchased with the money be returnable to Invercargill at some future time.

Sir Joseph Ward: Does that mean that they can still have radium treatment in the Invercargill Hospital if they want it there ?

Sir Louis Barnett: Yes, that was what we set out to do in the first place. Sir Joseph said he would confer with the hospital authorities in Invercargill. He had no doubt that _ they would confirm what had been said, and no doubt he would be able to give effect to the request.