POSITION IMPROVING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 52, 26 November 1918, Page 6

POSITION IMPROVING

A TALK WITH THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC HUALTH. "Reports from Duiiedin show that the position is improving there,"' said tho Minister of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. ltussell) last night. "Jn Auckland also the position is improving, and there is ' a much more hopeful tone in that city. The Emergency Hospitals. "At noon yesterday, out of 1234 beds m the emergency hospitals, there were 52 vacant, it for males and 10 for lemales. The admissions during the preceding 24 hours had numbered 53 and the discharges 31. Price of Thermometers. "The attention of the Government has been drawn by a member -of Parliament to an enormous rise inithe price of,thermometers," said Mr. Russell. ''The statement is made that thermometers have gradually risen until they cost 12s. Gd. each, and a chemist who was asked the reason for this high price said that it was the consequence of the operation of a ring. The matter has been referred to the Prime Minister for consideration by the Board of Trade. The Cost of Funerals. "Another 'question that has come under consideration is the very high prices that often are charged- for funerals. It was reported in the newspapers in one part of the' Dominion that the cost of a funeral had advanced to .225, and that practically a demand was being made for cash. I am not aware," said the Minister, "how far that statement is supported by facts. In all necessitous cases the Government will pay for the funerals of those who have die'd without; leaving any estate. If information in support of the statement I have mentioned is produced, the Government will take steps immediately to see that excessive charges for burials are not, permitted.

Nursing Classes. .-. "With reference to tho proposal to es-.' tablish' nursing classes among the people, very gratifying letters have been received from St. John Ambulance Association, through Mrs. B. K. Preston, lady divisional superintendent, and lira. Porter, organising secretary of the Women's rational Keserve. These Indies offer the use of their respectivo organisations for the purpose of establishing nursing classes. . These offers will be carefully considered when the scheino evolves a little later." Help For Children. Last evening a deputation representing workers attached to St. John's Schoolroom 'Hospital waited upon the Minister and etated that they had in hand seven children whose parents were cither dead or incapacitated. Provision had to be made for the ininiediate needs of these -children. The Minister forwarded a request through Miss Myers that the children should bo taken at '■ the South Wellington School, where thero aro a number of vacant' beds.

"A proposal has been made," said Mr. Eussell, "that the children's classroom at the training college at -Kelburn' should be used as a clearing house for children and that special provision 6hould be made for those who are affected by the disease, tho convalescent or unaffected cases being concentrated at the Miraniar golf house, which is reported now to bo full. This question is jmder the consideration of the Department and will be decided as early as possible to-morrpw. "The chief "difficulty is that of obtaining- the necessary staff. The number of nurses at present suffering from the epidemic is very large, and the necessity of trained women being placed in charge of all institutions is absolute. The policy, therefore, must be to concentrate in the institutions whera \ trained staff is available. .

"Here and there throughout the Dominion there are cases reported of children .being attacked by the disease. Happily, up to the present this has not been at all general. It is to be hoped devoutly that the disease which ha.s taken so heavy a toll from the adults will spare the children. Everything possible to protect the children will be done, by the Health • Department."