RADIUM

Southland Times, Issue 20773, 14 May 1929, Page 6

RADIUM

INVERCARGILL FUND A LOAN FOR DUNEDIN HOSPITAL DEPUTATION TO PREMIER (Special to the Times.) Dunedin, May 13. This morning a deputation from the Otago Hospital Board waited on the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to place before him a question in connection with a sum of £3600 which was raised in Invercargill some years ago for the purchase of radium, but which had not been used for the purpose for which it was intended. Mr W. E. S. Knight (chairman of the board) said that some years ago considerable sums were raised for the purchase of radium. Members of the Peace Time Council addressed meetings in Invercargill, and as a result the sum of £3600 was raised. It was thought at that time that on certain conditions the money would be handed to the Otago Hospital Board for the purchase of radium, but such had not been done.

Sir Louis Barnett said the money was raised in answer to an appeal from Dunedin for the purpose of supplying Dunedin Hospital as a base hospital with radium. It was understood that as a result of the collection, the Southland people would benefit by the establishment of . the radium department at the Dunedin Hospital and would be treated on the same basis as Dunedin patients, there also being an arrangement that emanation outfits could be sent to Invercargill if the patients could not come to Dunedin. An emanation outfit was a tube containing radius gas just as potent. The Department decided that there should not be more than four centres supplied with radium. The Invercargill people later said they would not give the money, but would make it a fund for the expenses of people who came to Dunedin for treatment. A short act was passed putting the money into a trust fund and there it had beer) for four or five years with accumulated interest. Very few patients had been sent up out of the fund. The trustees themselves were now dissatisfied with the way the money was being expended. The fund had grown to about £4400. They were now prepared to hand it over on trust on condition that it would be handed back to Invercargill at any future time if radium were required there. What was now desired was permission to purchase radium with the money on the condition that the radium purchased with the money be returnable to Invercargill at. some future time. That could be done in 20 or 30 years' time if it were needed because radium remained practically the same for an indefinite period. Sir Joseph : Does that mean that they can still have radium treatment in the Invercargill Hospital if they want it there?"

Sir Louis Barnett: Yes, that was what we set out to do in the first place, but it was never completed. Sir Joseph Ward said he understood the position. He would confer with the hospital authorities in Invercargill. He had no doubt that they would confirm what had been said and no doubt he would be able to give effect to what had been asked.