£5000 GIFT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1929, Page 2

£SOOO GIFT

FOR RADIUM

GISBORNE, April 18

The Dominion will be ten thousand pounds better olf to purchase radium for the treatment of cancer in New Zealand as the result of a magnificent gift by Mr John Clark, of Opou of £SO! N) for this purpose, which will carry a Government subsidy of £1 for £l.

This announcement of a change in the terms of Clark’s donation was made by the Chairman of Cook Hospital Board, W. G. Sherratt, to-day. Reporting that he had received a cheque for £SOOO from Mr Clark, Mr Sherratt stated that the sum was for the acquisition of radium for the treatment of the patients of Poverty Bay. The Cook Hospital Medical Superintendent (Dr Hall) had conferred several times with Mr Clark, and the former had inquired into tlie ways and means of taking up the money whilst he was in Wellington, and he found that radium treatment could not he given in the Cook Hospital, as it would involve obtaining the services of a radiologist at £I,OOO a year. Therefore, Mr Clark had decided to place his donation of live thousand at the disposal of the whole of the Dominion to obtain radium supplies. The Chairman added that he had mentioned the matter to the Minister of Health (Hon A. J. Stallworthy) who had stated that the £SOOO would carry £1 for £1 Government subsidy.

In reply to a question, the Chairman said the radium would he kept in Wellington. One member commented that it was a magnificent gift, and it was decided to forward a letter of thanks to Air Clarke for his gift. «