CANCER CAMPAIGN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18616, 11 July 1930, Page 8

CANCER CAMPAIGN.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Cancer Campaign Committee was held last night. Present—Messrs G. S. Cray (chairman), F. Lewis, W. Thomas, W. Jones, F. Washbourn, J. P. Lamb. W. D. Campbell, G. Rowbotham, Drs. W. H. Unwin and G. H. Ussher, and the secretary (Mr H. G. Naylor). The chairman said that the meeting had been called to report progress and to consider further steps necessary to complete the collection of the £2OOO allocated to the district. To date, £2073 had been raised, but of this amount several sums had been collected outside Timaru. These totalled £524, comprising country districts £216. Temuka £lB3. and £125 collected in Christchurch, leaving a total of £1549 for Timaru. There remained a further £450 yet to be raised if the committeee’s objective were to be reached, apart from any amount which might be necessary to cover the expenses of the campaign. He was hopeful of adding in the vicinity of £l5O to this sum in promised donations. Figures supplied by the Government Statistician relating to mortality due to cancer showed an alarming increase in the spread of this disease. The figures brought home the malignancy of the disease and the responsibility of the individual in assisting to stamp it out. So far, a large proportion of the amount collected represented contributions from wage-earners. It was regrettable that support from people of a more wealhty class had so far been given in such a small measure. He thought that this lack of support was due not £b much to callousness, as to failure to appreciate fully the malignancy of the cancer menace. The campaign was not a charity appeal, but merely a scheme for self-insurance. In his opinion, if a similar disease were as prevalent in sheep or cattle it would engage considerably more attention than the present appeal had done. Bad and all as the disease was in New Zealand, it was approximately fifty per cent more serious in the Old Country, and if the rate of cancer mortality were ' allowed to increase as it was doing, then those who had failed in their responsibility might have to bear the results in future years. In the ensuing discussion on ways and means of augmenting the fund, Mr Washbourn moved, and Mr Campbell seconded, that the local authorities be approached with a view to obtaining permission to organise a street collection.

Mr Cray said he thought that as a large number of country people were in town on Fridays, the street collection might clash with the country contributions.

Mr Washbourn argued that there were people in the town who, although they had made donations, would be prepared to buy a badge for a nominal sum, and in this way a considerable amount could be raised.| The motion was then carried unanimously. It was decided that a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Cray. Washbourn, Dr Unwin, and the secretary wait on the Borough Council, and make the necessary arrangements for the organisation of a street collection. It was resolved to launch a further publicity campaign, and to endeavour to bring before the public the figures relating to cancer mortality supplied by the Government Statistician. Messrs Cray, Campbell and Dr Unwin were constituted a committee to confer with the Timaru Branch of the British Medical Association, and the Press. It was decided that some of the money already collected be transferred to the central fund, when it could be put out at interest. At present it was lying idle. Accounts amounting to £7O/0/9 were passed for payment.