COMBATING CANCER

Southland Times, Issue 20663, 19 April 1929, Page 8

COMBATING CANCER

THE RADIUM TREATMENT.

GENEROUS GIFT TO DOMINION

(Per United Press Association.)

Gisborne, April 18.

The Dominion will be £lO,OOO better off to purchase radium for the treatment of cancer in New Zealand as the result of a munificent gift by Mr John Clarke, of Opou, of £5,000 for this purpose, which will carry a Government subsidy of £1 for £l. This announcement of the change in the terms of Mr Clarke’s donation was made by the chairman of the Cook Hospital Board (Mr W. G. Sherratt) to-day.

Reporting that he had received a cheque for £5,000 from Mr Clarke, Mr Sherratt stated that the sum was for the acquisition of radium for the treatment of cancer victims of the whole Dominion. The original offer was to hand over the money to buy radium for the treatment of patients of Poverty Bay. The Cook Hospital medical superintendent (Dr. Hall) had conferred several times with Mr Clarke and the former had inquired into the ways and means of taking up the money whilst he was in Wellington and found that radium treatment could not be given in the Cook Hospital as it would involve .obtaining the services of a radiologist at £l,OOO a year. Therefore Mr Clarke decided to place his donation of £5,000 at the disposal of the whole of the Dominion to obtain radium supplies. The chairman added that he had mentioned the matter to the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy), who had stated that £5,000 would carry £1 for £1 Government subsidy.

In reply to a question, the chairman said that the radium would be kept in Wellington.

One member commented that it was a magnificent gift and it was decided to forward a letter of thanks to Mr Clarke for his gift- __________