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Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1924, Page 2

Tim question of maternity nursing is giving a good deal of concern in various parts of the Dominion. The complaint published from the Auckland district this week is not any exception. There is a similar feeling abroad here where the ha missing regulations of the controlling Department have caused not a little coucei u, and if wc are infoihted correctly, some sharp passages of exchange between experts involved. The criticism trom Auckland is to the effect that the new policy docs not appear to lie constructive. It merely eliminates without any development in a more serviceable direction. In scattered districts where population is limited it seems unfair to impose regulations which can he mule reasonably observed in the centres of population. While the concern of the authorities rail he well understood, it should he on reasonable lines, and not seek to impose conditions which, because of the smallness of the population, heroine impracticable. Where the Jlos--1 ital Board is not in the position to provide a central hospital on louson-a-blo economic lines, it should he empowered to assist to equip private maternity retreats, and in that way the requirements of a district such as tin’s could he met very adequately. Where export nurses are not obtainable for home attendance, the private hospital becomes a necessity. Tt is Iho case here, and the Uo-j.ital Board might assist to meet the situation by aiding established premises, which are aj.proved hv tin* medical faculty, to that state of modern equipment which will meet the requiiements of the regulations. In this wav .something reasonable could In* done to meet local necessities and the needs of the I)<*fartment he eonfoi med wrth.

Thk renewed complaint b.v the exsoldiers on the land in regaid to the value put upon their holdings is not surprising. The land was purchased in a dear market with competition at its keenest. The Government lias attempted Mime f«rni of a revaluation, hut it is not surprising to find that tlu* matter ha- net hocn dealt with in a liliernl way. That greater liheralitv is necessary, i- due to the fact that those on the dear land have not recovered from the slump which followed the cessation of sales. Indeed the position was made more acute by the slump in dairy and stock prices which followed, and markets are so uncertain and indefinite that there is not any hope of material recovery till another land ls>om sets in —and that is a remote contingency in the light of late experiences. So far as the soldier settlors’ land is concerned, the (state will have to write down its values substantially or forego interest payments for a long period. Tn the case of ex-soldiers on privately-owned lands their experience will lie one of great hardship indeed. The soldier .settlement scheme never contemplated such a. contingency! It was hoped ilio men when put on the land would all do well. That was the sole intention. A<i fhnt has not conn? to pass. the

Stnte has tho obligation of assisting further so that tho real intention of the policy should he carried out. It is not tho desire that t‘ho men should he put off the land, and lose all ih: they put into it. Where the State has genuine case* on its hands it should assist all it nan to ensure the established success of the new-horn settlor.