NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

At a meeting of the North Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union this week the president made an emphatic protest against “this silence that; is imposed on our representatives at conferences.” During the discussion it was slated that delegates had been told by Government officials that all the proceedings were confidential “ami this had precluded them from reporting back to their respective organizations.” Others referred to what they described as “the imposition of secrecy.” “Members felt,” the president said, “that while they were working in their fields in response to the appeal for increased production, decisions were being made and matters being discussed of which they had no knowledge.” It was decided to register strong exception to Hie secrecy imposed on farmers’ representatives at conferences.

Willi the iiamliiig over of Hie Silverslream Military Hospital to the Wellington Hospital Board the pressure on the city hospital should bi: very appreciably relieved. Although the period of occupancy is for three years only, with I lie option of an extension under fresli arrangements nt: the end of that; time, it seems likely to become a permanency. This decentralization of t lie Wellington board's institutions is altogether in Hie public interest, for there lias been criticism on Hie point that Hie Wellington Hospital itself was in danger of becoming unwieldy, a danger involving increasing administrative difficulties in control and supervision, with a possible deterioration of general efficiency. The now premises, once properly equipped, should also permit of specialization, if this were considered advantageous to Hie welfare of the patients and to more effective eonecnIraliou on certain types of cases. That, of course, is a question of medical policy. On general grounds, however, Hie new arrangement seems very satisfactory, and should, be welcome to the board and the public alike.