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Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1937, Page 4

In a recent address at a Nortli Island centre; the Hon. P. Fraser, .Minister of Health, referring to the hospitals of the Dominion, said he did not want to say their hospitals were perfect, but he wanted to pay a tribute to the legislators of the past who laid tl e foundations of our present system. In Australia the hospitals depended on charity and voluntary contributions imd then on the proceeds of State lotteries. There may he a lot to be said in favour of sweepstakes, but be for one, did not think that we could ever have our health service dependent on money obtained from gambling. In England, too, there is a constant appeal for contributions for the maintenance of tne great hospitals; but in New Zealand, whatever the defects, our system of local rating and Government subsidies has worked admirably, and lias been copied in other parts of the world. By and large, hospital treatment for every man, woman and child was available all over tne Dominion. It was necessary to have modern equipment in order to give an efficient health service, and it was inevitable that the smaller boards would have to consider sending their more serious cases to central hospitals. Mr Fraser also commented on the neeu for extending maternity services. It was necessary, he said, to place at the service of motherhood the most perfect nursing attention, together with the most modern and scientific methods known to medical science. The rate of maternal mortality had been reduced considerably in recent years, but there was no reason why it should not be made the lowest in the world. They will have to extend the St. Helens Homes and the maternity services in the country districts. The homes must receive attention first, as it is imperative that we should train more nurses for work throughout the Dominion. Apart from medical and nursing questions, there is the difficulty experienced by many mothers in obtaining domestic help during their confinements, and the Government is prepared to give its serious consideration to this problem. However, the passing on of the gift of life is something moral and spiritual, rather than economic, and, although the Government w*'*l do everything .possible, the mothers themselves can l:e of the greatest help in arresting the fall in our birth rate.