TREATMENT OF CANCER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4607, 11 March 1902, Page 7

TREATMENT OF CANCER.

Special to the “Times.” NAPIER, March 10. Dr Mason’s report to the Minister for Health on the cancer hospital question was considered by the Napier Hospital Board to-day. .This Board, it may be stated, originated the proposal through one of its members, Mr H. T. Cohen, on his return from Sydney after undergoing an operation for cancer in 'the throat. One-third of the Hospital Boards of the colony replied favourably to the resolution of the Napier Board for the establishment of a cancer hospital in the colony, which Dr Mason, in his report, admits to be impracticable. In a lengtuy discussion to-day which culminated in Mr Cohen’s resignation, the whole matter was thoroughly threshed out. Mr Cohen maintained that the Chief Health Officer had no right to let the question of expense influence him in reporting on the proposal. That was a question for the Government if the latter were satisfied that the people required such an institution. -The report stated that one hospital would not bo enough, and that it would cause people to go a long way for attendance. It was to obviate the necessity of poor people going long distances to Dunedin or to ’ Sydney for treatment. He still maintained that a cancer hospital should bo established, and a specialist appointed by the Government. He made no reflection on the medical staff, but the fact that so many patients, especially women, went from here to Wanganui and Dunedin indicated that there was a lack of confidence in the treatment obtainable in this district. He moved “ That the Minister of Public Health be approached requesting him to place before his colleagues a resolution passed by the Napier Hospital Board and endorsed by over one-third of the other Hospital Boards in New Zealand, that a cancer hospital be built in one of _ the chief centres, and that a specialist be engaged from England to take charge of that institution.” The Hon J. D. Ormond said Dr Mason’s report contained weighty arguments against the propo-

sal, ivliicli should not lightly bo set aside. Whilst in entire sympathy V' ith the project, he thought the position would be better met by the following amendment, “That the attention of the Government be called to the necessity of making better provision for dealing with the growing number of cases of cancer in the colony, and with that view the Government should take the best advice as to how that can be done, whether by the establishment of a central institution for the treatment of such cases or by providing special medical advice, which would be available to the people of the colony, and that in forwarding this resolution to the Government the replies to this Board’s circular on the subject from one-third of. the Hospital Boards in the colony be also sent, as instancing the necessity of dealing with the matter.' 1 On the amendment being put the voting was equal, four for and four against. The chairman voted with the ayes, and declared the amendment carried. Mr Cohen, on the result of the voting being declared, said ho was very sorry, but ho would send in his resignation. He could not help it, as he had taken such a great interest in this question during the last few months, and he regretted that his motion should have been received in such a way.