MEDICAL CONGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14789, 19 September 1911, Page 7

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

ABUSE OF HOSPITALS.

STATE SYSTExM DISCUSSED.;

BvTelesrraDli.— Association.—Copyri*lA (Eeceived September 18, 920 p.m.) Sydney, September 18. The Australasian Medical Congress, afte» disposing of formal business, to-day discussed the question of the abuse of free public hospitals by those who were able to pay fees. The real interest in the debate centred upon the attitude of the pre** fession towards the proposals recently made by Mr. F. Flowers (Chief Secretary) in favour of a general system of State Hospitals. Dr., Worrall (Sydney) said he hoped that whatever Ministers might do, the profession would fight to the last ditch a proposal which was not only adverse to the interests of medical men, but also to I the interests of the sick poor. Dr. Nash (Sydney) supported Mr. Flowers's scheme, but the majority of the other speakers were more favourable towards a continuation of the present voluntary system. Dr. Roberton (New Zealand) said the mistake made by the New Zealand Gov-, ernment in regard to hospital legislation, was that they failed to adept the primary understanding that hospitals were in-< tended for the sick poor. . The Congress adopted resolutions to tha effect thafcJf Governments undertook tha entire faHbial support of hospitals, patients wHy were able to obtain the Bar* vices of medical men outside the hospitals should be excluded, and that boards of management should be retained-

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS* SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. (BeoeiTOd September 19, 12.55 ajn.) Sydney, September 1 18. There was a brilliant gathering at thai Town Hall to-night when Lord Penman (Governor-General)' formally : opened the Medical Congress. Dr. Pockley, in his presidential address, said that more universally ; and rapidly than at any time in its history medicine was passing from the traditional and em-i piric, and becoming more rational- Sciemtifia discoveries made and foreshadowed,} threatened to not only revolutionise medicine, ■ but, within'■"-, the* limits that! inexorable nature ordains, to ' profoundly alter inter-racial relationships, and influence man's distribution over the face pi the globe. ;^- ; ,;'..-; " -^'..-},.