BOARD OF HEALTH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 201, 20 May 1921, Page 6

BOARD OF HEALTH

FIRST MEETING HELD. The Board of Health, constituted under the Health Act, 1920, held its first meeting yesterday. The board is comprised as follows-.-The M inister ot Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr), who is chairman, Dr. T. A. H. Valmhne (Direc-tor-General of Health). Dr. Lindo Percuson (Medical Faculty, Otago University), Dt. J. S. Hlfeott (British Medical Association). General M'Gavin (nominated medical member). Sir James Milson (Counties’ Association), Mr 1. h. Martin (Municipal Association), Mr. VI . Ferguson (Civil Engineers’ Association), Mr. Murdoch Fraser (Hospital Boards), Mrs. J. P. Luke, and the Hon. W. H. Triggs (nominated members). _ The principal business was a discussion of the powers of the board as regards its attitude to local bodies when pertain applications were received from ‘the Department for the board to take health duties of certain bodies. It was derided that further information should be obtained before the board would feel itself justified in taking action. The somewhat alarming reports issued by tho United States Labour Bureau on the maternity mortality of the Dominion were discussed, and it was decided that further information should bo obtained as to the statistics to see if the comparison with other countries is 'n any way fair “to New Zealand, which was very much doubted' by some members of the board. It was further decided that the fullest information should be obtained by the Department s officers upon the subject for discussion at the next meeting of the board.