GOVERNOR PRAISES N.Z.’S ENTERPRISE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 16

GOVERNOR PRAISES N.Z.’S ENTERPRISE.

HOPE EXPRESSED FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 1. An endorsement of the obstetrical appeal now being made throughout New Zealand was given by the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, when speaking in reply to the civic welcome to-night. He said that the Hon A. J. Stallworthy, who represented the Government, had claimed credit, and rightly, for the low rate of mortality of the population as a whole, and particularly of young children.” I wish that the same could be said about the mothers of the country,” Lord Bledisloe said. He ventured to hope that before another GovernorGeneral received his official welcome the Minister of Health would-be able to say in public that, as a result of the grand efforts being made at great selfsacrifice by many generous people in order to provide better obstetrical skill on these crucial occasions in a woman's life, low mortality of mothers was also a feature of the life of New Zealand; as could be claimed in regard to children. Referring to a remark by Mr Stallworthy that New Zealand had been the first part of the British Empire 1o establish a Ministry of Health, his Excellency said that was very praiseworthy, and he had no doubt it was perfectly true, but he would remind Mr Stallworthy that for many years before the New Zealand Ministry was established there existed an old Government department in London, known as the Local Government Board, which although not labelled a Ministry of Health, certainly acted as such for many generations before the pioneer Ministry was established here.