OBSTETRICAL APPEAL FUND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4435, 3 April 1930, Page 2

OBSTETRICAL APPEAL FUND.

FOXTON CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED.

Owing to some misunderstanding that the Foxton district was to be included in the Palmerston North effort to assist in the Dominion campaign to raise funds for the Obstetrical Appeal Fund no detlnile steps were taken to launch a local campaign. This, however, was rectified on Tuesday when in response to a public announcement, a meeting of women was convened which was addressed by Dr. Helen Deem, of Wanganui. The Mayoress (Mrs. Perrcau) presided, and after the speaker had outlined the objects of the campaign, and stressed || M . nee,| for the safeguarding of motherhood, the following committee was set. up: Mesdanies Perce,an (chairman), S. Austin (lion, secretary), J. K. Ilornblow (treasurer), F. Robinson, \Y. B. Barber, and W. 11. Smith (Moutoa). 11 was decided to make a canvass of the district and to publicly acknowledge all donations. The offer of Mrs. Austin to hold a garden party at her residence was heartily approved. DR. DEE.M'S ADDRESS. Dr. Deem in addressing the meeting, [minted out that New Zealand had the lowest, general death rate in the world and the lowest infantile death rale, but as far as the maternal death rate was concerned, New Zealand had nothing to he proud of. Certainly -the maternal i(eath rate, said the doctor, was not as high as alarmists have led people to believe but, nevertheless, it was twice Sweden's death sile. The expectant mother living in the hack-blocks of New Zealand she said, was very severely handicapped —possibly was situated hfty miles from the nearest doctor who, in bis turn, might he many mil»s away from further medical assistance should it he required for a j different case. How necessary it j was then, that every now- | iv qualitied doctor should leave the i medical school with a very tliori i,ugh practical knowledge of mater- ! nity work. | The- doctor stated that at the j present time there was no midwiI lcry training hospital in New Zeaj land where the medical students could live ami thoroughly follow I cases through from beginning to i (nil, whereas every up-to-date mej liieal school in the world had such . hospital for training purposes.

However, the New Zealand Govern

menl had granted £50,000 for the midwifery training hospital and now the Obstetrical Society were appealing to the public of New Zealand. vbgkzti Zealand for £25,000 to endow the ,n,.-q>itnl for all time and thus pro-

ilc I lie salaries of an expert tea

idiiug staff. The present, professor of midwifery, who is retiring this \car and who had rendered most excellent service 1.0 the school for , 1,,- past 20 years, had received only 1200 per annum owing to lack of funds. A new professor was to he advertised for and it was hoped to get an expert In lill the position and

oL course he would have to re

ecive adequate remuneration for his services—hence the appeal. Hr. Deem summed lip the situation by staling how much this appeal v, as going to mean to all. It could help New Zealand women in three ways: —First, by reducing the maicrnal mortality; secondly, by re-

ducing the still birth rate and. thirdly, by lessening the crippling

disabilities which so often super \ cue on child birl h.

Dr. Deem then said how well the citizens of New Zealand were responding generally to the appeal ami how some districts had exceed-

ed their quota of money. She fel

sure that Boxton was going to show its sympathy with the movement by •■doing its bit” also. The speaker was accorded a vote

of thanks at the conclusion of the address, which was carried by acclamation.