MEDICAL CONGRESS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13306, 16 February 1914, Page 7

MEDICAL CONGRESS.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, last night. There was a meeting of t'he full Medical Congress on Saturday morning to 'consider the resolutions w.h.:ch have been passed by the various sections of the Congress, and at half-past 11 the visiting doctors left Auckland by special train for Rotorua. From 150 to 200 doo tors took advantage of this opportunity to visit the !hot lakes.

About 80 doctors will go down the Wanganui river on Wednesday by special steamer, proceeding to connect with the train for Wellington, this being done to suit a considerable number of doctors who are catching the Friday's steamer from Wellington to Sydney. Others, of course, are making more extensive trips m New Zealand.

The recommendation from the Public Health, section that m future the school inspection and hygiene section should be separated from the public health section, and established as an independent section, was endorsed. ' It was argued that the subjects of hygiene and medical inspections of schools were becoming such an important branch of medical work that they should rank as a special section,.

The proposal that the medical inspection of schools by the State should be extended to private schools was keenly discussed, and the matter was deferred for further consideration.

Following up the comprehensive report on the care and control of the feeble-minded, the combined sections of psychological medicine, public health, •and disease^ of children recommended the Congress to nrge the tState Governments of Australia and the New Zealand Government to take into consideration, with a view to legislating at the earliest possible moment, the recommendations submitted m reference tb the establishment of day and residential schools for the treatment of mental' defects. The motion was adopted, and the existing committees were reappointed with power to add to their number.

The Contract Practice Committee recommended the reaffirmation of the income limit clause, and the congress agreed. The clause m question provides that no medical men shall pass for admission into any friendly society for professional attendance at contract rates of remuneration any person whose income from, all sources,, together with that of his wife, exceeds £4 weekly, and shall not attend professionally- at contract rates any member of a friendly organisation whose income from all sources exceeds £6 weekly.

A resolution passed by the Council of the British Medical Association to tho effect that membership of future congresses be limited to membership of the British Medical Association, came up for consideration. During the discussion which followed the fear was expressed that if such a, limitation were imposed the congresg might be deprived of tlie services of some good men .who had neglected or omitted to become members of the British Medical Association. It was decided to alter the resolution to read "That future congresses be congresses of the British Medical Association."

In connection with the lengthy report presented by tho specials committee set up to frame a recommendation on venereal diseases, it was agreed that the information furnished with the memorandum, be published,, and that eppies be forwarded to the Governments of Australasia. A further motion was carried setting up a. permanent commission for the whole of Australasia to #vide arrangements for the -production of reports and act aa an advisory body t"> the executive of the congress . New Zealand members are Drs. W. E. Collins and Hardie Neil, and Professor Colquohon. Dr. Collins was appointed chairman and Dr. Hardie Neil general secretary.