MATERNAL MORTALITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 16

MATERNAL MORTALITY.

DEPUTATION TO CITY COUNCIL REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE. The hon. secretary. Obstetrical Fund Campaign, wrote asking the council to received a deputation of members of the executive to place before the council the. aims and objects of the campaign. The council decided to comply with the request, and the deputation was then introduced, consisting of Lady Ferguson, Mrs Marshall Macdonald, and Mrs Arthur Barnett.

Lady Ferguson, the principal speaker, said that for some years past the question of maternal mortality had been under consideration throughout the world, and it was recognised as important that the teaching of midwifery should take a more prominent part in the training of undergraduates. The importance of the subject was. recognised by the General Medical Council of Great Britain, which had of recent years demanded an increase in the amount of teaching. Some of the requirements of the General Medical Council could not he complied with in New Zealand'until ' a new hospital was built. The Gov-' ernment had promised to find £50,000 to put up adequate buildings in Dunedin. As soon as the Hospital Board had decided on the site the buildings would be erected without delay' In - addition to tlie facilities the new hospital would afford the extra amount of teaching would involve the services of a full-time professor and assistant.- The urgency of the present appeal was due to the fact that the University had no fundsfrom which to offer an adequate salary to a man of the necessary attainments. The present professor retired, under the age limit at the end of this year, and it would be necessary for the University. Council to advertise the position in June or July next, and this they couldnot do until they knew what salary they could afford.to offer. In the opinion of ' those best qualified to judge no salary less than £2OOO a year was likely to attract suitable applicants. In the interests of the women of the Dominion it was essential that the teaching should he of a very high grade, and it would he a very serious matter if the position were not held by a man of first rate attainments. The campaign was started by the Obstetrical Society, and opened in the north,-where the organisers were sanguine of getting £15,000. They were asking £IO,OOO from the South Island, in order to obtain, with the Government subsidy, an amount of £50,000 for the obstetrical * department. Wanganui Council had given! £SO, and other public bodies in the North Island were considering giving financial support to the movement. Seeing that this was a campaign to strengthen teaching in the Medical School of which Dunedin was so proud she trusted that the council would see its way to make a grant towards the £SOOO 'to be raised in Otago and Southland. The speaker stressed the fact that there was nothing parochial in this matter. In the North Island warm support was being given to it, and already the Auckland people. had shown their sympathy by subscribing £IOOO. It was regretted that this appeal was being made at the same time al the cancer fund appeal, hut owing to the changes in tli# teaching staff it was necessary to make arrangements at once . for the future. The matter must appeal to every man and woman in the community, and she hoped the City Council would see its. way to help in this woman’s appeal for funds" for a very worthy object. Lady Ferguson read the following telegram received from the north:— “Wanganui Borough Council given £SO and New Plymouth. £IOO, the latter body remarking that this objective was more important than laying down footpaths.” ■Mrs- Marshall ■ Macdonald endorsed all _ that Lady Ferguson had said. In visiting Australia recently she was striick with the wonderful manner in which this important .branch of medical .work was treated there, and on coming back to Dunedin she could'not but notice how little was being done in the same way here.

The Mayor said the request would be taken into consideration, and the deputation retired.

Cr Clark, chairman of the Finance Committee, said that in a few weeks the estimates for expenditure would be prepared, and it wopld be for the committee to take the request into consideration.