CHAIR OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 20, 24 January 1946, Page 3

CHAIR OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY

AT AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

APPROVAL OF THE SENATE Auckland, Jan. 21. The vesting of control in the Auckland University College Council of a chair of obstetrics and gynaecology to be set up in conjunction with the new gynaecological hospital in Auckland was approved by the Senate of the University of New Zealand.

A motion that a post-graduate chair in these two subjects should be established in Auckland University College on the understanding that the college would take steps to set up an academic advisory committee was introduced bv Mr. W. H. Cocker, president of the Auckland University College Council. This motion was carried after a discussion lasting about two hours. When this matter had been disposed of, Professor R. J. T. Bell (Dunedin) gave notice that he would move that a committee be set up to review the whole question of medical education in New Zealand and in particular post-graduate and under-graduate teaching of gynaecology. This resolution will be moved when the Senate meets ro-morrow.

Mr. Cocker traced the history of the Auckland proposal. Clinical material in Dunedin, he said, was recognised as being insufficient to carry both under-graduate and post-gradu-ate chairs, and there had been no opposition to Auckland as the location for the hospital and university chair. A committee of Auckland business men hact proceeded to raise over £50,000 for the endowment of the chair. Th§ full objective of £lOO,OOO would be readied in a short time. The Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) had given consent to the conversion of Cornwall Hospital for an obstetrical and gynaecological hospital, and this would‘he under the control of the Auckland Hospital Board.

MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE “My council desires that control of the new chair should be vested in it and it does not favour a chair in its district being controlled from Otago simply because the medical school there has hitherto controlled all medical education in New Zealand,” continued Mr. Cocker. The college council had set up a medical advisory committee and had prepared itself to take over the responsibilities. Being a postgraduate chair, it did not involve recognition of Auckland University College as a specia, medical school.

Mr T. D. M. Stout (Wellington) moved an amendment: “That while approving of the appointment at Auckland of a professor of obstetry and gynaecology by the University of New Zealand, it is felt that the creation of a new chair at Auckland, University College would , embody innovations in the academic structure of the university of such importance that the proposed appointment and also the whole question of the development of medical education in New Zealand should be referred to a special committee of the Senate, in the meantime the new professor being appointed to the faculty of medicine of Otago University.”

Sir Hugh Acland (Christchurch) seconded this amendment. He could not see that it was possible or necessary to confine the teaching at the new hospital to post-graduate students, but he felt that more consideration should be given to the proposal before a decision was made.

“I doubt if we have any power to give Otago control,” said the vicechancellor, Sir Thomas Hunter (Wellington) “Under the University Act we are divided into provinces, and it would be very unwise to start the practice of recognising professional appointments by controlled colleges in other centres. I am opposed to having two medical schools, but we are heading for that if we try to concentrate everything in one place. All incentive for improvement anywhere in New Zealand on‘any similar lines will be killed at once if we defeat the Auckland resolution. The idea is to give something that has not previously been given. There is nothing in opposition. to the Otago medical school in it.” OTAGO APPREHENSIVE Two eminent medical men had cast grave doubts on the wisdom of the 'proposed scheme, said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart (Dunedin), He feared that duplication of medical schools would result, with loss of unity ot control. Remote control was better than divided control. The public of Otago were apprehensive about the move.

Professor Bell (Dunedin) said he had been assured that only postgraduate training was intended at Auckland and he was quite prepared to support the proposal. The Auckland Hospital Board was bearing all expenses and could provide teachers, too, without consulting the university if they chose, said the chancellor, Mr. Justice Smith, but the Auckland people desired to have the teachers recognised by the New Zealand University. “All that the Senate is asked to do is to supply a teacher, but we have to provide as well that association with other professors which only the university can provide,” he said. “How could that be provided except in Auckland? The new professor would have to have relations with professors of chemistry, botany, zoology, and physics at Auckland University College. His association with medical men will be with practitioners in Auckland, whether control is in Auckland or not,” said Mr. Jur|ice Smith. He could see no allernaUve to control by the Auckland College Council.

“This question is more complicated than the Senate realises,” said the Very Rev. D. C. Herron (Dunedin). “This amounts to starting a new medical school even if it. is only in an embryo stage. There should be only one authority in control.” Mr. Stout's amendment was lost by 15 voter, to six, those supporting it being Sir Hugh Acland, Dr. C. E. Beeby (Wellington), Mrs. W. H. Benson (Dunedin), z the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, and Messrs. Herron and Stout. The motion, pronosed by Mr. Cocker was carried.