TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1921, Page 4

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

HOSPITAL STORES

SUGGESTIONS FOR PURCHASE

WELLINGTON, May 2

Before the Hospital • Commission the officer in charge of military supplies purchases, Mr E. N. Williams, expiessed the opinion that a considerable saving could be effected by the adoption of a system of co-operative purchasing in respect to Hospital Boards and such like institutions. He suggested a system of standardisation and the establishment of stores in the four chief centres, if arrangements could be made with Government Departments to undertake the distribution of the goods. The Defence Department, having the necessary stores and transport facilities in the chief towns, it should be in an excellent position to handle goods. All purchases would be made through one central buying office by men with special knowledge. It was essential in these times, no matter where a hospital was situated, that provision should be made foi at least three months’ stock to he held store. . Mr E. Killick, secretary of the Department, said that criticisms were directed the suitability of ai-. tides rather than the prices of them, and the remedy lay in closer standardisation and more accurate descriptions being furnished to the purchasing officer. Buying through the High Commissioner’s office could be greatly improved. Major George Albert Gibbs, officer in charge of naval stores, said he was of opinion that when the markets became I normal the contracts for medical stores should lie made in England and for periods of, say, two or three years. He thought that orders should go through the High Commissioner’s office.

HOSPITALS COMMISSION. WELLINGTON, May 3. The desirableness of making some provision for the treatment of such mental eases as really require special care and treatment, but which are not so far advanced in the disease as to justify their being committed to a mental hospital, was brought under the notice of the Hospital Commission to-day. , D r W. PL Collins said he thought there might be some intermediate place where that class of patients could go. He was very much in favour of it now, seeing that people could at present go voluntarily into a mental hospital and receive treatment. In the year 1918 there were 75 persons who voluntarily went into mental hospitals. Probably more £hnn half these persons were women. He did noi think they could receive the same benefit by going into a mental hospital as they would receive by entering public hospitals. The conditions are so different. DEATH OF MAORI CHIEFTAINESS. OTAKI, April 00. Mrs Heni To Rei, Chieftainess of the -Vgatitoa, Ngatiraukawa and Ngatihuia tribes died last night, aged ninety-two years. CROWN LANDS. CONFERENCE OF COMMISSION I. WELLINGTON, May 2. A conference of Commissioners of Crown Linds is being held. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. D. tl Guthrie, in his opening address, said that the last conference was held when the war was at its height and when war problems had to be considered. Now the aftermath of war was being experienced, and * its problems were being coped with Because of his anxiety to keep a uniform administration in the various districts in dealing with these questions he had deemed it the best course to call the conference, though he knew that the present was a very busy time. He explained the difficulties of the position arising through the financial stress and the slump in the prices of produce. Ho was not as pessimistic as some with regard to the outlook of soldier settlement, but lie was extremely anxious that no mistakes should be made and that the right course should be adopted in dealing with these matters. .He wanted an expression of opinion from the Commissioners as to their experiences in their own districts.

The conference is being continued in private.

A YOGA MINERS’ UNION. CHRISTCHURCH, May z

At a stop-work meeting of the above Union, the following strongly-worded resolution was carried: .“That we, as a Union, strongly protest against the action ol the Government in their attempt to suppress sooalied ‘seditious’ literature and t.ie treatment meted out to individuals who are found with same in their possession. As wo are of the opinion that the literature taken exception to is only workingclass history, we urge all Unions in future to cease work until uiege men are released, and for every £1 fine imposed, we shall cease work for the same number of days”