He quoted references in the Sydney Bulletin to a statement that Miss Rout was asking that contributions for schemes in connection with her work should be sent to the New Zealand High Commissioner in London. Reference to this, he said, had been barred in the New Zealand papers under the censorship regulations. He read a card, which, he said, had been handed to soldiers by Miss Rout. The card gave the address of a certain establishment in Paris, and on the back of the card a printed medical certificate.
Mr Holland said he wanted to show the Prime Minister the nature of the work that Miss Rout was doing, as he wished to ascertain whether it was done with the knowledge and consent of the New Zealand Government. He would like to know whether the Prime Minister had received any correspondence from the military authorities on the subject.
Mr Massey said he had not seen the particulars in the Sydney Bulletin; neither had he seen the card from which the member for Grey had quoted. It was the first time he had heard of it. Miss Rout had not the approval of the Government for what she had been doing.
Mr Holland: Or any knowledge of it?
Mr Massey said one could not help hearing something of what was going on, but nothing further than that.
Glut of medical students possible
Whether the number of students coming forward for the medical profession in New Zealand is greater than will be required for the service of the community is a matter to which the parents of youths, and the youths themselves, should give serious consideration. As a matter of fact, there appears to be a feeling amongst fully qualified medical men that the profession in New Zealand is likely to be overdone. Moreover, there seems to be some reason for this opinion. At the present time, there are 301 medical students attending Otago University, and 37 of them will sit their final examination early next year. It should be remembered, also, that medical students are coming forward in greater numbers than was the case five years ago.
Street signs inconsistent
The spelling of the name "Canongate'' seems to have presented peculiar difficulties to those entrusted with the practice work of preparing our street name signs. At the junction of Russell Street and Canongate may be read the bold title "Cannongate Street'', but on a house opposite, the name plate reads "Canongate Street''. If the curious passerby descends the "break-neck'' to the top of Clark Street and again looks for the official name he will find that once more the title reads "Cannongate Street''. At the foot of Duncan Street a third variation is to be found, for there it is called plain "Canongate'', without the addition of "street''. This latter form is the one appearing in Stone's Directory and maps, but without delving into official plans and records it is surely sufficient to say that the street in Edinburgh from which this one derives is called "Canongate''. It seems, therefore, that of five official name plates, containing three variations of spelling, only one happens to be correct.
- ODT, 15.10.1919.
