A THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1982, 12 February 1914, Page 6

A THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

i ," -♦■''; ' ■ • IN NEW SOUTH WALES. t i .' ■ - . - ■■■' t MR. HOLMAN AT THE MEDICAL CONFERENCE. i 1 ' ' ~~ i . CBj T«l«rraDh.—Press Association.) . 1 Auckland, February 11. I Tho Medical Congress was addressed [ by Mr. W. A. Holman, Premier of New 1 South Wales, on the subject of "Ad- ' ministration in Regard to Public • Health." His Government, he said, L was giving special consideration to the J question of maternity and the protect tion of child life. Special women's ) hospitals existed, and their functions . had recently been" specially enlarged. . It was proposed to build others to • meet the growing feeling that' confinej ments should, as far as possible, occur where the most modern scientific facili- | ties for obstetric treatment were' availI able. The Government encouraged the I confinement of women in hospitals j, specially, adapted to tho purpose rather than in their own homes, and proposed ■ to make every new hospital in country • districts provide sufficient beds to meet • possible requirements. Tlfe' Federal ■ Government gave a maternity bonus to • all cases of confinement, and the State aimed to provide a medical staff and ' nursing assistance without charge to ! those unable to meet it. A babies' 1 hospital had recently been provided for tho specific purpose of combating RRstro-onteritis-j and the Government was now building special hospitals for i children in the largo country centres to counteract the high mortality of .child • life there. . In connection with the medical in- : spection of schools, it. was intended, said Mr. Holman, to start almost immediately what might be called a travel- ' ling hospital, staffed, by two inedical • officers, one dentist, and one nurse, to i deal with eye troubles, and, where neces- ■ sary, give anaesthetics in minor opera-, • tions.such as the removal of adenoids, large tonsils, etc. Himself and his colleagues were strongly impressed by the need for preventive treatment of mental cases, and it ; was intended to provide for this work on.'modern lines.