NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8733, 20 February 1890, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Medical Association was commenced at the Town Hall yesterday. The president of the Association (Dr Hocken) occupied the chair, and the following delegates were also present :— '■ Drs Ogston, Batchelor, Maunsell, Alex. Fergus- i son, Roberts, Bl'Pherson, Martin, Lindo Fer- I guson, De Zouche, Colquhoun, Gordon | Macdonald, Brown, Hacon (Christchurch), I Syme (Christchurch), Whitten (Naseby), 1 Christie (Milton), Coleman (Napier), Cressy | (Napier), Longmore (Timaru), King (Seacliff), I Lewis (Aucklnnd), Pratt (Auckland), and 1 Trevor (A6hburton). | The proceedings were opened by | Dr Hocken, who delivered the presidential I address, and welcomed the delegates who had I come from all parts of New Zealand. He then I proceeded to refer to a number of matters— principally of an ethical and social character relating to the profession. He also made special reference to the proposed Medical Bill, pointing out that opposition to it was by no means well founded, as the bill was really intended to be of advantage, not merely to the medical profession, but to the public at large, treating, as it did, of education, registration, and matters of public hygiene, as well as the suppression of the numberless forms or quackery which were rampant. He showed further that the bill was far from being, as so many [of the uninformed public considered, a means of aggrandising the profession at the expense of the public, and expressed the opinion that it was highly important that the public should bo instructed with regard to the matter. _ He proposed that medical men in their private relations should explain the object of the bill to the public, and especially to legislators, and so ensure its becoming a welcome addition to acts affecting the general weal. In alluding to the matter of quackery, he spoke of the recent commission held in New South Wales, disclosing an alarmiDg amount of quackery, by which valuable lives were sacrificed, and pointed out that unleps speedy steps were taken to protect the public, it was much to be feared that the same condition of things would obtain here as in New South Wales. At the conclusion of his address Dr Hocken was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and it was decided that the address should be printed in the i New Zealand Medical Journal. I _ Some time was spent in discussing the ques- ! tion of admitting non-members of the association to take parfiu the proceedings. Ultimately it was resolved—"That the meeting be open to all duly qualified men." Papers were read by Drs Hacon, Batchelor, Trevor, King, Thomas, and Knight. The meeting then adjourned until to-day.