Medical Congress.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1922, Page 4

Medical Congress.

ADDRESS BY MINISTER

WELLINGTON, Feb. 27

A largely attended civic reception was given at the Wellington Town Hall concert chamber to-night to delegates attending the British Medical Association Congress and their wives. The Mayor, Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., extended a ordial welpme on Behalf of the citizens.

The Hon €. J.. P.arr, Minister of Health and Education, also tendered a very hearty welcome. The Minister stressed tide great importance of close co-operation and co-ordination between officers of the Health Department and medical practitioners, in the best interests of, the health of the people. He ■ referred to the co-ordination that bad been brought about between the Health and Education Departments in caring for the health of. school children and carrying on vigorous propaganda for tenhing mothercraft and such like. He expressed a hope that the congress would prove most successful, and trusted that the delegates would take into Benevolent consideration one or two matters that would conic forward at the instance of the Health Department. One would he the question of maternal mortality, regarding which New Zealand was credited with the unenviable distinction of having the second highest death-rate in the world. The conference would have submitted to it the report of a special committee of inquiry on that question, and he hoped that it. would provide the Department with the views of the British -Medical Association on that all-impor-tant' subject. The Minister also spoke of the need for better inspection of private hospitals. H(‘ knew that clauses of last session’s Act looking in that direction were much criticised, but ho hoped that the delegates, when the matter came forward, would realise that the intention of the Department was to iieljr, not to hamper, the profession in its' present work on behalf of the health of the people, and that as the result of its deliberations the Department would have the assistance of the profession.