DOCTOR’S SUPPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17203, 8 March 1930, Page 14

DOCTOR’S SUPPORT

CHAIR OF OBSTETRICS POSITION" EXPLAINED (Per Press Association.! PALMERSTON N., last night. A statement having been circulated that members of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical -Association were opposed to the Dominionwide appeal now being made to endow a Chair of Midwifery at the Otago Medical School, the matter was .deferred to Dr. Doris Gordon, secretary and organiser of the fund. Jn the course of the interview, Dr. Cordon said there was no truth in the statement- in circulation that doctors did not approve of the obstetrical endowment -appeal. In February, IfffiP,- during-the annual conference of the B.M.A. the whole assembly of New Zealand graduates of medicine passed- a -unanimous resolution urging on the Government the immediate necessity of 'establishing a new obstetrical hospital in Dunedin as a first step towards' efficiency in this department, and already two divisions of the 8.M.A.; namely, Wanganui and Taranaki, have given liberally to the endowment fund. Any criticism circulating must- therefore have originated from doetdr.s who are graduates of English universities, and who are not conversant with local needs and conditions.- ■

CANCER. APPEAL FUND Dr. Cordon also stated that ..there, was jio truth ;in .the sta.fepient, that officials in the cancer campaign were in any way opposed to the obstetrical appeal. All of them were, the warmest supporters of Mr. 'Victor Bouncy when he visited New Zealand in 1 DBS to prepare the way for this obstetric appeal, and had assured him that the improvements he lias advocated in the midwifery department would soon be made in New Zealand. Alorcover, officials in the cancel- campaign, knowing the obstetrical appeal . has been pending for four years, and that the obstetrical department of the Medical School has for the last: five years fallen below the standard of efficiency set -by the central medical council of Great Britain, admit that the obstetric appeal is -most urgent, and have kindly deferred their appeal in some districts .in favor of the obstetrical appeal. It was generally understood that the cancer appeal should receive substantial assistance from the. Travis bequest for cancer research in New Zealand, and there was not the least rivalry between these two humanitarian appeals, as the Queen’s advisors had looked, thoroughly into all matters concerning the obstetrical appeal before they -submitted the movement to Her Majesty for consideration. Her recent cable expressing her personal interest in the appeal and good wishes' for its full success establishes beyond all question the urgency of the midwifery appeal.