INQUIRY COMMITTEE ARE NOT HOSTILE, SAYS MINISTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18468, 21 May 1928, Page 8

INQUIRY COMMITTEE ARE NOT HOSTILE, SAYS MINISTER.

REPLY TO CRITICISM BY DR BLACKMORE. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, May 21. “The committee of inquiry regarding the treatment of consumption in New Zealand will not be hostile to Dr BlackI more,” stated the Minister of Health (the Hon J. A. Young), when interviewed on his arrival at Auckland this I morning. “I notice by a Press report sent out from Christchurch that Dr G. J. Blackmore, director of tuberculosis institutions in North Canterbury, said that the Health Department was appointing a Commission to try to discredit the work that had been done and was being done in the South Island-

“That is a totally incorrect view,” said Mr Young. “I hope that whatever the findings of the committee may be they will be helpful, not only to the Government, but to Dr Blackmore and other New Zealand physicians specialising in the treatment of T.B. patients. Indeed, I would welcome the co-opera-tion of Dr Blackmore in any work which may be done to help sufferers.” The Minister explained that he had appointed three physicians of outstanding ability to act as a committee of inquiry, and had done so only after consulting the executive of the British Medical Association in order that physicians of requisite standing might be selected. Not only would the committee visit the four main centres, but the physicians would inspect all sanatoria in the Dominion where T.B. patients were cared for. The desire of the Minister is not that the committee should investigate any scientific or technical phases. The committee has been appointed to investigate thoroughly the sufficiency and adequacy of accommodation throughout the Dominion for the comfort and treatment of sufferers.