FIGHTING DISEASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1925, Page 9

FIGHTING DISEASE.

TARANAKI LABORATORY. In reference to the establishment of a bacteriological department at the New Plymouth public hospital, a report of the minutes of a meeting of the bacteriological committee, representing the Taranaki, Stratford and Hawera Hospital Boards, was presented at the meeting of the Taranaki Board yesterday. The meeting was held on June 23, there being present: Messrs. M. Fraser (Taranaki), F. Gillanders (Hawera) and C. Sole (Stratford). Mr. M. Fraser was appointed chairman and Mr. E. Holden an ex-oflicio member of the committee. The general management of the bacteriological department was vested in the ehairman and Mr. E. Holden, with power to order the necessary drugs, etc., but where the value of any one thing needed exceeded the sum of £5, then the authority of the committee must first be obtained. A scale of charges as submitted by the bacteriologist was adopted, subject to the approval of the department. In regard to the cost of equipping the laboratory, it was decided 'that this should be borne by the combined hospital boards in the same proportion as the maintenance costs, with the proviso that if any one of the three boards seceded from the combination within three years, a refund of one-half of the amount they had paid on account of capital cost should be made to that, board. If the secession should be made after the above mentioned three years, then no refund of the amount paid on account of capital cost would be made. At yesterday’s meeting of the hoard a letter was received from the Health Department advising that the scale of fees suggested was approved and that the board’s application to expend £5OO had been recommended to the Minister.