BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10238, 6 January 1899, Page 6

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NEW ZEALAND BRANCH. (press association telegram.) AUCKLAND, January 5. The annual meeting of the British Medical Association, New Zealand branch, was held to-day. • Dr. Scott, tlie President for the coming term, delivered an inaugural address, which was on sanitation and public health. Our i Government, he said, was earnestly desirous of furthering the welfare of the community in every particular. It could not carry out this object ol* its existence in any better manner than by forming a Ministerial Department of Public Health. They had Departments of Justice, Defence, and Education, all doing important and valuable work, but none of such vital importance to the welfare of the community as would be, a Department of Public Health.

In moving a vote of thanks to the President for his address, Dr. Fell (of Wellington) said Dr. Scott could have chosen no more important a subject than that of the inadequacy of our Sanitary Act and the necessity for the formation of a health department by the Government.

Dr. Robertson, in seconding, expressed the opinion that the present was a very opportune time to move in the matter.

The motion was carried unanimously. The delegates spent some time in demonstrations at the Auckland Hospital. . This afternoon the Conference again assembled, when papers on medical questions were read by Dr. Truby King, of Seacliff Asylum, and Dr. Mason, of Otaki. Arrangements have been made to take the delegates out for a fishing excursion on Saturday. In order that the visiting delegates from the South should have an opportunity of studying the curative power of the Rotorua springs, the Government has granted free passes on the railway to that health resort to the members ot" the Association.