A TARANAKI NEED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 February 1925, Page 7

A TARANAKI NEED.

BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. SUPPORT ACCORDED IN HAWERA. The Hawera Hospital Board to-day decided to support a proposal put for. ward by the Taranaki division of the B.M.A.’ to appoint a, Government bacteriologist to Taranaki. The suggestion.? of the B.M.A. were: (1) That the bacteriologist be stationed at the New Plymouth Public Hospital; (2) that the cost of equipment be found, in proportions to be fixed, by the Taranaki, Stratford and Hawera Hospital boards; (3) that the bacteriologist and his maintenance he provided by the Health. Departure;;.;. The secretary of the division sail, that the experience of the various boards and their staff® in, regard to diphtheria 'carriers last year alone would convince members of the vt\lue of such, on institution. Also by making use of the motor services in Taranaki the hack-blocks practitioners would be able to refer material to a bacteriologist within three hours instead of a. minimum of, sa’y, thirty hours, as at present. Dr. AY. M. Thomson said that there was a crying need for such a laboratory, as the nearest institution of the kind was at Palmerston North. This meant that .swabs sent from Hawera often arrived in a sterile condition, as the germs had died on the journey, fu a hundred and one ways the laboratory would be of the greatest benefit to Taranaki. He thought that in the interests' of public health in the district the hoard should do everything it could in the direction of supporting the matter. It was mentioned that a conference of hospital boards at New Plymouth to discuss the matter was proposed, and the chairman (Mr. F. W. Gil--1 adders) and Mr. G. W. Tavler were authorised to attend.