AGED PEOPLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 188, 10 August 1936, Page 9

AGED PEOPLE.

QUESTION OF CARE.

FUTURE PROVISION

PROPOSED CONSULTATIONS

As the result of action taken by the executive of the Xew Zealand Hospital Boards' Association it is proposed to enlist the services of superintendents of mental hospitals in an honorary capacity to determine in regard to aged people tnose suitable for treatment in homes instead of in mental hospitals, i he Auckland and Christchurch Hospital Boards are to be asked to appoint the medical superintendents of mental hospitals in their respective districts to the honorary hospital stall's in order that the proposal can be carried into effect. Ihe matter was referred to bv the president of the Xew Zealand Hospital Boards' Association, Mr. W. Wallace, today, who said that the matter had been discussed with the Minister in charge of hospitals, the Hon. P. Fraser. The Minister said that he did not want to do anything to old peoples' homes as at present constituted, but he did not want to see cases that could be dealt with 111 homes sent to mental hospitals. Mr. Wallace said tlia; lie took the opportunity of congratulating the Minister 011 bringing down legislation dealing with pensions and other social activities which the Hospital Boards' Association 1 had advocated for many years. He sai.l I that the provision of invalid pensions would relieve the hospital boards and ; the better provision made for old age . pensions would have a similar effect. ' The Minister was urged to bring down j legislation so that an old-age pensioner ' could not be deprived of his pension following a first offence.