AT GRIPS WITH CANCER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 891, 7 February 1930, Page 11

AT GRIPS WITH CANCER

MEDICAL MEN APPEAL FOR CO-OPERATION

NEW ZEALAND IN THE FIGHT

“There is reason to believe that within the lifetime of most of us the scourge of cancer will have been defeated,” said Dr. J. S. Elliott, of Wellington, president of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Campaign, last evening. He was addressing a meeting of 300 citizens in the Town Hall concert chamber, convened by the Auckland branch of the Dominion committee. The object of the meeting was to interest the public in what is being done to combat the disease. The doctor, who was supported by the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, and Mr. .1. W. Shaw, of Auckland, made an earnest appeal for co-operation with the medical profession, both sympathetically and with monetary assistance to prosecute research in what was one of the paramount social problems of the day. The keynote of the speeches was one of hope based on the foundation of belief in imminent success.

Introducing the speakers, the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, who presided, said the efforts of medical men who were endeavouring to conquer cancer were deserving of the fullest public support. Auckland had been publicspirited to a remarkable degree* in many appeals. The fight against the most dreaded of diseases was one which should commend itself to all sections of the community. “I can now say that a public fund has been opened,” remarked the Mayor, in announcing that he had received £250 each from Mr. A. S. Bankart, the Campbell and Ehrenfried Company, Ltd., and New Zealand Breweries, Ltd.

Assuring the meeting of the Government’s backing in the fight. Mr. Stallworthy said the problem of cancer was a challenge to every man and woman.

Its incidence was so wide as to invade every family circle. Research must he carried on in every country, New Zealand no less, in an effort to find, a cure and to establish the causes of the disease. Canada had solved the problem of diabetes and no less a distinction might come to New Zealand, though her resources be small, of discovering the causes of the scourge. CIVILISATION’S PENALTV The higher the plane of civilisation the greater the icidence of eanoer, said Dr. Elliott in beginning his address. Too long had the world been appalled by the chimera that nothing could be done. • “We must unmask this scourge as we have unmasked other dreadful evils,” he said, “The disease is now being driven to its last hiding-place. The Union Jack is in the forefront of the fight and that is where we would have it,” said Dr. Elliott amid applause. New Zealand had lagged most woefully behind in research. Other Dominions had been doing their part, but this country had done practically nothing, he continued. But it was never too late to mend. Today New Zealand had the advantage of co-operation with other units of the Empire. Telling of a forward movement of the Empire CancelResearch campaign in the South Island, the doctor appealed to Auckland for generous support. It would be easy to frighten people by detailing the ravages of cancer, the speaker said. He could give people sad particulars and state that one in eight of his hearers at present had thb prospect of falling a victim to the disease. He would rather, however, paint a brighter picture. With Mr. Samson Handley, the eminent authority on cancer who was now visiting New Zealand, at the invitation of the Dominion branch of the 8.M.A., that more people than ever were being cured of cancer.

The object of the Empire campaign was to educate the people and obtain their assistance. Already branches of the campaign society had been formed in Southland. Otago, Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland. Dunedin aimed at a fund of £25,000, of which half had already been contributed. Dr. Elliott had been promised several large sums in Wellington, but very much more was needed. It was desired that individual persons should make donations in order that direct interest would be stimulated. The Government had given its assurance that help would not be lacking when the public had done its share. On research Dr. Elliott said there was no reason why the highest investigations should not he conducted here. Auckland needed more radium and had less in proportion to its population than the other centres. It should not be thought that radium was a complete cure in all cases. It had not yet supplanted surgery. Concluding, Dr. Elliott asked why should people wait until the disease of cancer had invaded their household, stricken themselves or their loved ones, before allying themselves with the medical profession in the fight. “All we need is the will to succeed,” said the doctor. “We have done nothing yet. Here is our opportunity.” LAYMAN’S VIEW Speaking purely from the lay aspect, Mr. Shaw said the public well knew a relentless enemy was at the gate. But the general attitude was even one of fear to mention the word “cancer.” But it was dangerous to over-estimate an enemy. It weakened the opposing forces. Underestimation was stupid, and to ignore the problem as non-existent was both cowardly and stupid. The medical profession was organised in the fight; it was now up to the public. There was a risk, said Mr. Shaw, in letting the people know medical symptoms and details of the disease, but the enemy was so insistent that a risk had to be taken. People had suggested that nothing could be done in New Zealand, and that so small a nation had better wait quietly while more wealthy peoples carried out research. Such an attitude should be deprecated. Too long had the Dominion been spoon-fed, declared Mr. Shaw. The nation had come of age and should now pull its weight. Conclud ing, the speaker said that if the dominance of fear could be shed, then a great deal had been accomplished. He urged the necessity for generous financial support in the promotion of the campaign. People of Auckland had amply demonstrated their public spirit along other lines. What mere meri- j torious cause than cancer research? |