THE FIGHT AGAINST T.B.

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1946, Page 4

THE FIGHT AGAINST T.B.

- Press Association

■ '■ ' ■ 1 ■ ■ MINISTER CRITlCISES HOSPITAL BOARDS

By Telegraph-

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 5. Strong criticism of wliat he deseribed as the hospital boards' failure to fullil their obligations in the prbvision of suitable hospital and sanitarium facilities for sufferers of tuberculosis, was made by the Minister of Health at the dedication of the Taranaki mobile X-ray uriit at Waitara on Saturday. He was replying to commejits by representatives of the Maori tribes and- other speakers, that X-ray examination and tuberculosis treatment were useless unless insanitary housing conditions were eliminated. It was of paramount importance that patients should reeeive adequate medical treatment, said the Minister. Housing was also an iinportant factor .but equally iniportant was the provision of adequate hospital and sanatorium facilities. Tuberculosis was not'a n'ew disease and there was a growing realisation in the country of the prevalence and "danger of the complaint. "In my opinion the hospital boards have liot done what they should have done to help combat this disease," said Mr. Nordmeyer. "The provision of these services is their statutory obiigation. They. have not faced up to it in every case." In some areas, he added, notably m the; south, hospital boards had c-ombineo to provide sanitoria. This scheme' had worked out so satisfactorilv that when a person was f ound to be suif er ing from the disease it was not very toug before a bed was found for him along with specialist treatment. "There is a shortage in parts of the country oi some 1000 sanitarium and hospital beds for tuberculosis sufferers," said ihe Minister. "That mehns there is a .considerable leeway to be made up. x understand there is a project under way in this district but that some controversy exists about the site. It is time a decision was made. ' ' While admitting all that had been said about the urgent need for proper housing for the Maori people, he contended that sanitarium treatment was an equally pressing demand. Mr. C. P. >Shepherd, Under-Secretary of Native Affairs, said he aimed at a target of 600 houses a year for the Maori people. However, the housing plan had to be proportionate to the labour and materials available and his department was doing evervthing pospossibie. The klaori population was increasing and the increase had to be met. "I hope we shall be able to reacli our target shortly and then I hope we shall be able to double it," he said.