Masseur Now Known As Physiotherapist

Chronicle (Levin), 21 July 1949, Page 11

Masseur Now Known As Physiotherapist

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, July 20. A 1 ' masseur ' ' will i'n future be legally known in New Zealand as a "physiotherapist." Provision for this change is made in the Physiotherapv Bill which was introduced and read a first time in the House of Eepresentatives to-day. The Bill also replaees the term "massage" by that of "physiotherapy. ' ' The Minister of Health, Miss Ho ward, said the Bill consolidated and amended the Masseurs' Registration A.et and its amendments. New Zealand was one of the last countries in the world to retain the word "masseur.", The Bill was generally accepted by phvsiotherapists in New Zealand. The Bill provides for the registration of physiotherapists. The existing registration board known as the Masseurs ' Registration Board, is reeonstituted to inelude the inspector of phvsiotherapy in the Department of Health and tlic prineipal of the School of Physiotherapy at Dunedin, and an additiona1 physiotherapist. The training and examination required to qualifv for registration, are left lo be delined by regulations. Hospitals or other institutions may be approved by the registration board as training schools "■ for physiotherapists. Annual practising certificates are to be takeu out by physiotherapists ancl a physiotherapist who has been an inmate of -i mental hospital may not resnme prac tice without a lieenee from the registration board. Disciplinary powers are ■given the board. There is the right ot \appeal to a Magistrate' and two assessors from decisions of the board. It is un offence for an unregistered persoci to advertise himself as a physiotherapist.