HOSPITAL AT THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20332, 13 August 1929, Page 10

HOSPITAL AT THAMES.

TREATMENT OF NATIVES.

BOARD FAVOURS CONFERENCE

[nv THI.E'j RAI'TT. —OWN" COI'.KKSrONDENT.] TIIAMES, Monday. The Thames Hospital Board met to-day, Mr. W. Hale presiding. The Acting-Director-General of Health, Dr. 11. Watt, advised that a case had been brought to the notice of the department in which a hospital board recently sued for the recovery of ices for professional services by a native health nurse to a settler who could well afford to pay. Tho decision in the case went against tho hospital board. In order to meet difficulties in sucli cases the Crown Law Office had advised the invocation of a section of the Crown Suits Amendment Act, involving new proeeduro in seeking authority to sue in such cases. A letter was received from the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board asking for assistance in a combined effort by boards to obtain some satisfactory measure of assistance from the Government in hospital and nursing treatment of natives. "ft is felt." stated tho letter, "that tho ordinary channels of approach, through the Hospital Boards Association and the Department of Health, have now been tried no often without avail, that it behoves thoso vitally interested to tako tho matter into their own hands and approach Parliament direct." It was suggested that a conference be held at some convenient centre such as Hamilton, in order to decide the nature of the assist anco to bo sought, and tho manner of the seeking. In supporting the suggestion, Mr. Hale said several provincial boards had been endeavouring to improve their position in regard fo the treatment of natives for many years, but without success. It was decided to agree to tho suggested: conference and tliuL tho board be represented. A cheque for £IOO voluntarily sub scribed by the people of Paeroa for hospital purposes was received with thanks. The chairman, in referring to the shortage of coal, said preference was always given to hospitals wherever possible, but the delivery of coal to the Thames Hospital was greatly delayed by the very unsatisfactory train services. Tho passage of a truck of coal from Huntly to Thames occupied four days. It was decided to request tho district traffic manager to expedite die train services to Thames.