HOSPITAL BOARDS' CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18417, 25 June 1925, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARDS' CONFERENCE.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ACTION. The opinions of the Health Department on tho resolutions passed at the recent Hospital Boards' Conference, held in Auckland, were brought beiore ihe North Canterbury Hospital Board at its "meeting yesterday, in a letter from the Department. The letter stated that with regard to the resolution "that Section 72 of the Act he repealed and that the Government he asked to pay .n special Bubsidy to the Metropolitan Boards," tho Minister could not see his way to introduce legislation of so sweeping a nature, which would undoubtedly inflict hardship upon a certain number of Boards. A communication had been eent to the executive of the Association suggesting that the original proposal to repeal tha eection except as between contiguous Boarda should stand, but that the section might be modilied so as to mako three months the term oi residence, under sub-section 1 instead of twelve months and that the period two years be reduced to one- year, and that the period under sub-section 2 he reduced from tivo years to three years. The resolution that legislation be introduced enabling Hospital Board 3 to secure money from tho State Advances Department had been referred to the Minister of Finance for hi 3 favourable consideration. Respecting the resolution that Hospital Board elections should take place every three years instead of two years as at present in the case of cities and boroughs, this matter wis being given consideration, and enquiry was being made as to whether such t reposition would materially increase tho coat of Hospital Board elections in boroughs. The resolution that relief should not be treated as income in dealing with old age pensioners, and tho resolution that the woman who had divorced her husband and whose husband afterwards died should be granted a widow's pension, had beon referred to the Pensions Department, whose reply would be duly announced.. With regard to tho resolution that a stricter medical examination be mad© of immigrants coming to the Dominion, this matter was recently brought under the notice of the departmental district and port officers with a view to ensuring that aB far as possible, no person be permitted to land except under a bond, who (mowed signs of being either physically or mentally unfit. Another resolution that the position of persons nominating immigrants should be investigated before the nomination be accepted'had been referred to the Immigration Department with a view to nominations only being accepted from persons who were obviously in a position to £ll their obligations thereunder. _ The letter was received.