The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 8, 1930. AN APPEAL WORTHY OF GENERROUS SUPPORT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11126, 8 February 1930, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, FEBRUARY, 8, 1930. AN APPEAL WORTHY OF GENERROUS SUPPORT

it is pleasing, to fiiul tliat tviiJtjspread interest is being taken in the appeal for funds which has been launched by the N.Z. Obstetrical Society with the object of enabling a Chair of Obstetrics to bo founded in the Otago Medical School. The movement is, in strict fact, belated, hut

the urgency 7 of the matter seems to have now strongly impressed itself oil all sections of the people of this Dominion. What must have occasioned surprise outside New Zealand is that, whilst so much has been done here, by moans of 'the Plunket Society 7 , in reducing infant mortality, an equally effective effort has not been made towards reducing maternal mortality. On the one band, this Dominion’s low rate of infant mortality only 39 in every 7 1000 births —is the subject of praise throughout the world; but. on Iho other, the maternal mortality 7 figures arc higher than in a number of other countries. Tho Government, as is well-known, has fairly liberally supplemented tho public effort in the direction of maintaining and expanding the Plunket system. But that happy state of affairs lias been duo to the fact that tho system lias had behind it nob only a large body of public opinion but also a very live organisation. If tho movement that is now afoot to raise the standard of training in midwifery and gynaecology had, years ago, been 'launched with as much earnestness,' it is certain that it, too, would not have lacked heavy public support ail'd, in turn, would also have been generously aided by the State.. Unquestionably the visit of the eminent London specialist, Mr Victor Bdnnoy, in 1998, did p-great f ibat in' iho hiaTlbf of WKkoniitte: ini lio' wmt 'uuo'yii.O i> ~w uo.-yW. ’WTI

lnfiasures with the object of bringing ;|oout a reduction, in the < maternal fleatli rate, the stillbirth rate and a lessening of the evidence in respect of disabilities supervening upon child birth. Straight away, the Government made a grant to enable a slight improvement to be effected in the salaries of the teachers of midwifery and gynaecology. Last year, however, the Government made a rifficl) generous offer viz. that it would fprovido £50.000 for the erection of an up-to-date midwifery hospital in connection with, the School of .Medicine at Dunedin. What is now proposed is that the public should provide an endowment fund of £25,000 to ; enable a reorganised and vastly implied department to be equipped \glth an adequate staff to bo paid comJfiensurately with its heavy responsibilities. There should be uo great difficulty in securing the amount that is suggested.y Already, according to a statement kratle liy Sir James Parr' a. couple of years ago, the public of this Dominion has subscribed £500.000 to enable the Plunket Society to c.wv on its good work. (Incidentall#tlio State has also assisted the. jjjfocietv to the extent of £250,000). pfobody, we feel sure, considers, for a singto moment, that the expenditure in question has not been well worth while. Tn comparison the Obstetrical Society’s appeal, it will be agreed, is very small but the ideal is equally worthy of generous support. One and all should do everything possible to ensure that at least the sum needed will quickly be subscribed.