RAVAGES OF TUBERCULOSIS

Chronicle (Levin), 26 August 1946, Page 4

RAVAGES OF TUBERCULOSIS

JUNIOR CHAMBER DISCUSSION INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE That the New Zealand Junior Dliambers.of Commerce recommend to the Afflliated Chambers that they sponsor the formation of lay tubferculosis associations, and support such lay tuberCUldsis associatidns as are already formed was ohe matter discussed at the district convention of Junior Chambers Of Commerce, held in Levin during the week-end. The siibject was presented by Mr. J. Heineftian, of Wellington. Mr. N. G. Whitty, of Wellington, submitted a report and said that the mortality rate in 1944 in New Zealand through tuberculosis was 963, comprising 591 Europeans ahd 372 Maoris. In that year there was a grand total of 7731 notifiable cases of tuberculosis in New Zealand. The objects of a tuberculosis association, the speaker continued, were, firstly to provide for the benefit, comfort and welfare of persons who were suffering, or had suffered from tuberculosis; secondly, to promote and assist in proffloting an ihvestigation of the cause, and after care and welfafe of persons who had suffered from the* disease; thirdly, to secure doordination between the public and medieal profession, in the investigation and treatment of tuberculosis; and, fourthly, to disseminate such information through the association's members and^officers and other persons, by all available means, and in particular by the use of such agencies as meetings, demonstrations, lectures and publications. Mr. I. Thomson (Wellington) said that he would like to draw the attention of the assembly to the after effects of tuberculosis. He said that certain employers could not take the employee back to his former job as the, man's health would not permit it and it was the Junior Chamber's duty to try and help them back into a suitable position. . j % Mr. B. Foley (Wellington) suggested the prevention of the disease and not so much the cure. He said the only way to control the disease was to educate the people towards improving their diet and living conditions. Mr. D. J. Sweetzer (Levin) said that prevention was better than cure, and that there must be thousands of cases of undetected tubefculosisi in Ncw Zealand. He then suggested that there shouid be a compulsory annual medieal checkUDMr. S. Jacob (Canterbury) said that Canterbury had already put forward a compulsory medieal check-up, and that the scheme had been taken up by the authorities. Mr. B. Martin (Wellington) said that the first thing to do was to find out the causes of tuberculosis and analyse them. He also stressed the need for more emphasis to be placed on fche idea of common care. . . . Mr. J. Stacey (Wellington) argued that the responsibility lay with the medieal profession to bring the matter before the public, and that pressure shouid be brought to bear on those responsible. .. . Mr. N. M. Thomson (Levin) stressed the need for more to be done in the detection of tuberculosis. He said that it was an msidious disease, and that the most unsuspecting people had this somet.imes dormant aff fiction. After further considerable discussion a motion was passed that the Wellington Junior Chamber be empowered to investigate the Position regarding tuberculosis and the tuberculosis associaltion, _ with, an ultimate view of presenting a rfeport at the Timaru National Convention. ___ _____________