THE OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 7

THE OBSTETRICAL SOCIETY.

APPEAL FOR FUNDS. ' CULMINATION OF SUCCESSFUL EFFORT. TOTAL OF £31.741 COLLECTED. (Special tc Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, May 21. For several months the women of New Zealand have been collecting money to i endow a chair of obstetrics at the Medi- ■ cal School of Otago University, and the ■ culmination of their efforts was reached to-day by the handing over of £25,000 from the Obstetrical Society to the chancellor of the Otago University. To mark : the occasion an afternoon tea was held by the Obstetrical Society at the Adelphi ! cabaret. Dr Irvine, president of the society, was in the chair, and at the , official table were Sir Thomas Sidey I (chancellor of the Otago University), Lady Sidey, Sir Lindo Ferguson (Dean I of the Medical School at Otago Uni- j versity), Mrs T. H. Lowry (president j of the Wellington Provincial Committee), Lady Buckleton (vice-president), ! the Mayoress' (Mrs Troup), the Mayoress i of Dunedin (Mrs Black), Mrs Chilton | (Christchurch), and Dr Doris Gordon (secretary of the Obstetrical Society and organiser of the appeal). Apologies were received from the Minister of Health (Mr A. J. Stalhvorthy) and the Minister of Education (Mr H, Atmore). His Excellency the Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe sent their regrets that absence from Wellington prevented their attendance.

Although the sum of £25,000 was being handed over, said Dr Irvine, there would be a surplus, and the society asked that this might be used for travelling scholarships in obstetrics and research in disorders associated with maternity. Dr Irvine said the society wished to place on record its gratitude to the four women’s executives and the many women’s committees all over New Zealand who, in a time of financial stress and in a very / ahort time had, by thenteam work and enthusiasm, brought the appeal to success. The motive had been the welfare of women and children, and the latest amenities for both in midwifery service would be available shortly to every mother in the Dominion. The' society acknowledged, too, the assistance of Lady Alice Pergusson and Lady Bledisloe, and had asked the latter to convey to her Majesty the Queen that the appeal she graciously commended had been successful. It also acknowledged the help of the women’s division of the Fanners’ Union, which put aside its own work to help the appeal, the of the press and the broadcasting stations, and the business men’s committee in Wellington. Dr Doris Gordon gave the amounts collected, which were as follow;—Auckland £11,060, Wellington £9lOl, Canterbury £5150, Otago and Southland £6430; total £31,741. The total headquarters organising expenses would be under 1J per cent. She also thanked all the women who had responded so wholeheartedly to her appeal. In accepting the money collected on behalf of the Council of the Otago University, Sir Thomas Sidey said it was inevitable that in such a campaign that the impression would not be made that there was weakness in the teaching in the Medical School, but he could assure everyone that this was not the case. The two professors had carried on their work under great difficulties, hut no medical school had a better standing, and New Zealand graduates were jn great request in England and occupied positions of importance in many London hospitals.' The university had not been neglectful of the needs of the midwifery department. He felt that this was a proud day for the Obstetrical Society, and he assured its members that the council would welcome their advice in the appointment of a professor, not only now but in the future. The present regulation did not allow a Government subsidy for scholarships held out of New Zealand, but he felt sure that if the matter was represented to the Minister of Education the regulation could be amended. Sir Lindo Ferguson said the teaching of midwifery had been a serious flaw in the teaching of medicine. It had been impossible to comply with the latest standard until the Government had provided a hospital and the public had provided funds. He felt that the scholarship would do even more, for there would he a constant sending of graduates overseas to obtain the best knowledge which they would be able to give to the people of New Zealand. DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS, CREATION OF TWO SCHOLARSHIPS. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, May 21. . In connection with the £6OOO surplus over the £2sooo collected and handed over by the New Zealand Obstetrical Society it was decided to-day to utilise the sum for two travelling scholarships tenable for two years and to be known respectively as the Obstetrical Society scholarship and the Auckland scholarship, the latter in recognition of Auckland’s exceptional response, where the fund totalled £11,060, or £3560 in excess of the quota.