NO STONE UNTURNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 165, 15 July 1938, Page 13

NO STONE UNTURNED.

UP-TO-DATE BUILDINGS.

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday.

In the course of the debate on the Maternity Services Committee this evening, Mr. J. Hodgine (Government, Palmerston) said reference was made in the report to old inconvenient hospital buildings, and he expressed regret that the' past Government had seen fit to reduce the hospital grant by some £200,000 during the elump years. He was certain that the present Government would leave no stone unturned in making provision ior bringing hospital buildings up to date, and that there would be no question of economy at the expense of mothers.

Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National, Waitomo) said the necessity for making adequate maternity provision was recognised by everybody as the first duty of the State, and he joined with other members in commending the committee for £he value of its report. It was' gratifying to find that the committee had fotfnd "in every part of the Dominion | conditions that suggested in the main that adequate provision had already ! been made. It was quite evident that j New Zealand had a hospital service of which it could be proud. Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) agreed with previous members that the report was a very valuable) one. He instanced several cases of hard/ ship occurring in maternity cases in backblocks, and urged that the Government should give some measure of assistance in such eases. He suggested that the Government might supplement the funds of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union and also of the Phmket Society to enable them to supply a nuree-housekeeper service to country people. Mr. C. A. Barrel] (Government, Hamilton) discussed conditions 'among: Maoris and , contended that some maternity ?aees among Maoris were a disgrace to the country. The debate wae adjourned at 10.19.