HOSPITAL BOARDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 February 1926, Page 9

HOSPITAL BOARDS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, Feb. 24.

The annuai conference of the Hospital Boards Association of New Zealand commenced this morning, Mr. W. Wallace presiding over 90 delegates. The Mayor (Mr. L, H. Tapley, M.P.) accorded the delegates a civic reception, specially welcoming the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A Young) and congratulating him on attaining Cabinet rank. A distinguished visitor was Hr. Maceachern of Chicago. The Minister, in reply, paid a tribute to the distinguished service of Sir Maui Pomare as Minister. Four great problems were: organisation, finance, administration, and service. In connection with service, there was a tremendous field in New Zealand for the boards, the department, and the Minister. There was a great need in the outer districts for maternity wards or the organisation of a nursing service to go into the homes. The first duty or boards, while maintaining their institutions, was to educate the public in good health and prevention of disease. Money spent in preventive medicine was a better investment than on remedial institutions. He advised delegates to keep jealously within their own hands the control of the services which they rendered, and the doors of their institutions should be open to every section of the community. The following remits from hospital boards were brought forward: That the Government be asked to provide a special sanatorium for tuberculosis patients ivho, owing to criminal tendencies or filthy and objectionable habits, are unsuitable for admission to ordinary sanatoria, and who yet are a menace to the public health and it is desirable should be compulsorily detained until such time as the disease is arrested. —Adopted. That while the present system obtains, only ratepayers be eligible to vote at hospital board elections. —• Rejected. That the Government be still urged to amend the Hospital Act to enable hospital boards to receive money on temporary deposit, the limit in this direction being that at no time shall the deposits in hand exceed the amount owing to the hoard as levy and subsidy.—Adopted. That the Government be recommended to amend the existing- regulations governing hospital accounts to provide that returns set out in the' first and the second schedule of such regulations should be audited by the Government audit office.- —Adopted. That hospital boards charge single men (without dependents) the actual cost of maintenance whilst in hospital —Adopted. That sub-section 6 of section 72 or the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. 1900, be amended by adding the following words thereto, viz., “or any other public or private institutions where a person lias been sent- for any special purpose.”—Adopted. That the association is of opinion that' the salaries or all nurses undergoing training in the public hospitals of the Dominion should he made uniform. —Rejected. That in view of the fact that the Government has recognised the national aspect of the treatment of tuberculosis, in that it has erected sanatoria in the North. Island, this conference is of opinion that the time has arrived when similar provision should be made for the South Island. —Adopted. DUNEDIN, Feb. 25. At the Hospital Boards Conference the following further remits were carTfiat the Government be asked financially to assist boards to return undesirable immigrants, and to stiffen the examination on arrival. That the necessity of providing pensions for chronic invalids and dependents be urged on the Government. . That the Government provide institutions where deserting husbands could be employed on productive works, and there help maintain their wives and families. , , , . That the Government defray the cost of returning defaulting husbands to the Dominion.