DR. MASON'S RETURN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 4

DR. MASON'S RETURN.

'.-___— 9 ' .;— ..'MEDICAL PROGRESS AT HOME. . * Dr. J. M. Mason, who was, prior to therecent "retrenchment" in the Civil Service,. Chief Health Officer.'fon..New. Zealand,'and who-has since been exercising medical supervision of emigrants .leaving England for this country, returned to Wellington by the lonic yesterday. Dr. ;Mason is ' still in the ~ Government service, arid wjll have reports to make ; bearihg on his recent official duties. He denies' the' statement, '-made in - the House of Representatives during tho consideration of the. Estimates last session,' that no reports: upon ■ his work in England were furnished by him to the Gov- . eminent, ." While he was in England Dr. Mason qualified as a barrister, ■ and was called to the Bar, but a Dominion representative who conversed with him yestcr•day gathered tkat.he has no: present iu\tention of taking up law as a profession. ■The 'medical, insiiection of school children is : a measure which was strongly advocated by. Dr. Mason when he was Chief. Health Officer. In England very complete machinery-has, he states, been .provided for this'■•purpose. Medical officers are -,appointed for school work, andastaff of nurses are' sent round to seo that- the children, receive' proper attention. In; indigent cases, where inspection 1 shows that/medical treatment is required, the. children are sent to, the hospitals' or treated by the parish doctor. Parents •who can'afford to do so sehd their children to their own doctor. Another: matter in which Great Britain, according to. Dr. Mason, is setting an example .to. othcrr countries, is in the .war against consumption, and in making provision for the' indigent consumptive.The tendency, is to erect.light shelters for these patients, in preference to, costlysanatoria, and..the death-rato from the white'. plague. has, been greatly reduced. Good work is also being done at Home in the investigation of cancer.. !■' Dr. Mason speaks very bjghly'.of the immigrants at present coming to ■ New Zealand through the High Commissioner's Office. Physically they are, he declares, of the very best type. Dr: Mason is a sympathiser with the suffragist cause, which he believes is destined to succeed. ■ He describes Mrs. Pankhurst, whom he met in London, as "the most powerful, cultured, intellectual woman I have ever met." ;