DISEASE GERMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1757, 23 May 1913, Page 6

DISEASE GERMS.

PROPOSED RESEARCH WORK.

GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME ADOPTED

.'Following upon a briof discussion at tho monthly meeting of tho Wellington Hospital Board yesterday, certain proposals by the Government, set forth hereunder, were adopted by tho hoard. In a letter, the Inspector Goneral of Hospitals and Charitable Aid (Dr. Valintiue) suggested that an agreement between Ins Department and the board with regard to tho staffing, equipment, and maintenance ot proposed Bacteriological Laboratory should bo drawn up on the following lines: ' 1. That, on the understanding that tho Wellington Hospital Board provide such laboratory and office accommodation as the Public Health Department shall consider necessary, the expense in connection with tho staffing, equipment, a n « maintenance of the said laboratory be -met by tho Wellington Hospital Board and tho Public Health Department in equal shares. . 2. That tho undermentioned officers of the Bacteriological Branch of the Public Health Department be i;aken over by tho board and Department, subject to the abovo conditions, and at the following salaries:—J. A. Hurley, bacteriologist, .£6OO per annum; P. L. Hickes, laboratory assistant, ,£260 per annum; , laboratory assistant and clerk (to be appointed). .£2OO per annum; W. C. Purdy, laboratory assistant, ,£l6O per annum; S. Gorman, messenger,' ,£loo per annum; total, ,£1350 per annum. . 3. That tho board pay the equivalent of half tho salaries of the officers appointed as a contribution to the Department, in order, that the officers concerned may participate in tho benefits of the Public Service Superannuation Fund. 4. That tho bacteriologist appointed bo termed "Government Bacteriologist," and that officer bo in supremo chargo of tho laboratory. 5. That the Bacteriologist appointed carry out all Government and hospital work, in order of urgency, irrespective of whether such-work is .for tho Government or for tho Hospital Board. 6. That the board provide all chemicals necessary for tho laboratory, and tho Department all equipment and books. 7. That tho Bacteriologist and a laboratory assistant devote not moro than two days a month each to tho preparation of vaccina lymph, which will necessitate these officers being- absent from the laboratory on thoso occasions. 8. That all fees earned by the Bacteriologist be retailed by the board. 9. That if hereafter it be shown to tho satisfaction of the_ board and the Department that tho time of the Bacteriologist is unduly taken up with Government work, tho Department agrees to make an additional appointment, such appointment to be at the expense of tho Department. 10. If at the expiration of one year from the signing of this agreement, it be found that the scheme is not workable, the agreement between tho board and the Department be terminated on reccipt of three months' notice from either side.

Very Favourable Terms. The chairman (Rev. IV. A. Evans) moved tho adoption of the aßreement. The ailvantages of the scheme to the board were, he said, fairly obvious. The cost to tho board would bo little, if anything', as the fees from other hospitals and private practitioners .would largely cover , tho amount payable by the board. It would bo a. very good thins indeed for the board. In seconding the motion, the Hcv. H. Van Staveren said that after discussing the' matter with the Inspector-General, he was fully satisfied that the proposal was in tho best interests of the board. Under the circumstances ho would ask permission to withdraw his notice of motion to rescind the board's .previous decision cancelling Dr. Hardwick Smith's instructions to appoint pathologists while in England. Mr. D.'Robertson supported the motion, and congratulated tho Hev.. .Van Staveren upon his conversion. Mr. I). M'Laren,.in supporting tho proposal, said that it ought to bo clearly recognised that the Government was nowtaking charge of this work, and that the board now stood in tho position of a con•tribntory had v. Mr. B. R. v Gardener will again, qs at the previous meeting of the board, raiso tho question 0 f tho irregular procedure which he said had marked the initial stages of these negotiations, and said that tho matter should be put upon ,1 proper footing by formally rescinding tho minutes of the special meeting which had authorised the cancellation of Dr. Hardwick Smith's instructions. Mr. J. V. M'Ewan remarked. that tho history of the negotiations should be a warning to tho board not to act too hastily in future. The agreement, as above stated, was unanimously adopted.