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Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1925, Page 2

In the House of Representatives earlier in the week, the Hon. Sir M. Pomare, Minister of Health stated that the only medical research concerning which the Department of Health is in a position to give information is that which is being caned out with the funds provided by the Government. The work in hand comprises an investigation into the incidence, causation, and prevention of goitre; the study of anterior poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis), with a view to discovering the factors which cause this disease to display epidemic manifestations. some means of detecting it in its early stages and methods for its prevention, and an investigation into rheumatoid arthritis and kindred diseases, win arc the cause of much invalidity and suffering. An enquiry dealing with cancer is about to be started, a sum of money having been recently made available for the purpose. This enquiry will probably be oi a statistical nature. The work incidental to goitre, ininfantile paralysis, and cancer is being undertaken at the Medical School in Dunedin. The Department has recently appointed a research ollieer, with special qualifications for this work, and he is acing in collaboration with the Lniversity authorities. The investigation regarding arthritis is being carred out by the orthopaedic sjK>cinlist >d the Dunedin Public Hospital. As tl result of the investigation dealing with goitre, very material advance has lieen made in .lie treatment and prevention of this disease, among school children in particular and among the population generally. It is yet too early to maVe any pronouncement about- the other investigations. The intentions of the Government are to set aside from time to time sufficient sums of money to enable investigations to be undertaken into any matters ol special interest to the Dominion.

Who is Davis, and what is the Davis Cup? To answer thc-o questions, which nuitiv people are asking themselves just now. we have to go back to-the eight-een-nineties. when a young Man aid man named Dwight Davis was beginning to will celebrity in the game that was fast becoming popular. Davis, as far hack as 1807. was runner-up in the singles championship with Holcombe Ward. A genuine enthusiast, Davis conceived the idea of ojl'ering a cup for international competition. At the time of the first competition in 1900 — in which Davis represented America, as he did again in 1902—there were only two nut ions competing. America and Great- Britain. The terms of the Gup did not preclude oilier nations from entry, but Davis, who could not foresee the world-wide popularity that lawn tennis enjoys to-day. really intended h.is cup for contest between Great Britain and America. To-day. thanks to the marvellous growth of lawn tennis, the Davis Cup is the greatest of all international tournaments. There are 23 different nations competing for the right to challenge -Vinerica, and so scattered are these nations that in 1923. for geographical reasons, the competition was divided into two groups, known as the Europcan Zone and the American Zone. Dunmi; the summer the various ties are played off on the knock-out system, and the two nations left in the final of their respective groups proceed to the Fnited States to play for the right to challenge America for the title. Mr Dwight Davis, lmm whose inspiration this universal bond has sprung, is -It! years of age. and is Assistant Secretary for War.