A WAR MEASURE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3151, 31 July 1942, Page 4

A WAR MEASURE

EMERGENCY REGULATION CONTROL OF HOSPITALS explanation by minister An explanation of the Hospital Administration Emercgeny Regulations, 1942, which at the last meeting of the Thames Hospital Board some members expressed the opinion that it was a definite threat to hospital boards, is contained in the following letter from the Minister of Health, Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, to Mr J. Thorn, MJP. for Thames. The Minister writes as under:—

“Thank you for letting me see the newspaper report of the,meeting of the Thames Hospital Board and of the remarks made concerning the Hospital Administration Emergency Regulations, 1942. “I may explain for your information that these regulations were dis- > cussed r fully with the executive of the -Hospital Boards’ Association, which approved of them before they were submitted to Cabinet.

“They were regarded as necessary in view of the fact that; in time of war it is imperative that arrangements should beonade for the care of sick and wounded soldiers and for the provision of emergency .hospital accommodation generally. “As some boards were failing to recognise their obligations in this respect, it was deemed desirable that some power should exist to require boards to undertake, this work and in the event of their refusing, to appoint a commission to carry it out.. “It is unlikely that the regulations will have to be enforced but it is desirable that the power should -be available in the event of an emergency arising.” %