MATERNITY CASES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 285, 1 December 1932, Page 20

MATERNITY CASES.

HOSPITALS' DUTY. DEPARTMENT MAY COMPEL HOUSE GIVES AUTHORITY. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The definite assurance that the St. Helens maternity hospitals conducted by the State are not to be closed was given by the Minister of Health, Mr. Young, in the House last night, when, replying to the protracted debate on the clause in the Hospitals Bill which requires hospital 'boards, if directed by the Department, to provide maternity hospitals or treatment. Labour members insisted that behind this provision lay the possibility of the State avoiding its responsibility for this class 1 of treatment. They eventually brought the Prime Minister to his feet with the statement that maternity treatment was regarded as an important responsibility. The clause, ho eaid, was designed for the express purpose of making such provision. Sometimes there were members on boards who were not so broadminded as members of Parliament, and they might fail in their duty, but the clause, would give the DirectorGeneral of Health power to 'say that it must be done. Some hospital boai'ds had not seen eye to eye with the Department. There had, for instance, ibeen arguments as to how far they should go in the provision of Telief, as compared with the Unemployment Board. Therefore, there ■were times when the Government must lay down a policy to provide whai was necessary. He could not understand the Labour memibere doing their 'best to stop tihe passage of so useful a measure. If the absence of their leader at Motueka was responsible, tihen the sooner he came back the better. (Laughter.) St. Helens Homes Not To Close. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) suggested that Mr. Forbes should amend tihe clause to make it comply with the interpretation, ihe ihad given the House, and other Labour members pressed for a definite statement ae to whether it was proposed to close tihe St." Helen's Homes. Mr. Young said it was not proposed to close the St. Helens Homes at all. Under ■tihe present law the Director-General ihad power to call on hospital 'boards to carry out services in regard to diseases., but not in regard to maternity cases. It "was felt .that some of tihe boards were shirking their duties In that respect, and it ■was his desire to take power to compel them to carry out these duties if called upon. The clause was agreed to ■without f urtiher discuseion.