SICK AND NEEDY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 2

SICK AND NEEDY

THE WORK OF RELIEF IMPORTANT CONFERENCE OPENS TO-DAY. The following are some of the more important remits to bo dealt with at tho conference of representatives from Hospital ' and Charitable Aid Boards, which opens in AVellington to-day : LEVIES AND SUBSIDIES. That tliis boapi attains the principle oi' grading hospitals so that levies will be based not on the capital value, but on per head of population.— Patea. That tho Government be asked to repeal the iourth schedule of the Hospitals Act, 1909, and amend section 38, subsection (20), in such a manner as to provide for the payment to Hospital riuards of a more equitable of subsidy on contributions received by Hospital Boards from local authorities for maintenance expenditure; and is of tho opinion that the subsidy payable on such contributions should not bout a lower rale than X\ for XX,— Southland. EXPENSES AND SUPPLIES.

That some provision should be mado in tho Aot to meet tho expenses of tho chairmen of Hospital Boards incurred in visiting tho various institutions under tho control of the boards, and that provision bo made for the payment of tho honorarium to chairmen.—Kaipara. That the Hospital Department forniulato a scheme for the purchase and distribution to Hospital Boards of supplies in general use. —Taranaki.

COST OF TREATMENT OR. RELIEF. That the Dostituto Persons Act, 1910, ehould bo amended to provide that Hospital Boards may recover from parents the cost of relief granted to children under tho ago of twenty-one years, also that the time for recovery of all relief granted should be extended for more than two years from the date it becomes due.—Taranaki.

That tho Defonc? Department should reimburse to hospital boards the full cost to them of the treatment of all returned soldiers who become patients in their institutions.—(Taranaki.) That steps bo taken to secure legislation providing that in all ease" wherein the breadwinner of a family has been removed by State action, tho Stato and not the Charitable Aid Boards be responsible for the maintenance of the family.— (Stratford.) That the conference consider the question of hospital treatment and patients' fees, which should bo placed upon a move equitable basis.—(Palnierston North.) That it be made compulsory for boards to notify, in writing and within a specified time, to the board concerned the ad T mission of patients to hospitals from other districts.—(Wairarapa.) NURSES' CLASSIFICATION.

That tho department bo asked to classify tho salaries of matrons, nurses, and probationers throughout tho Dominion, so that each Hospital Board, would understand the position with respect to such salaries; and, as the West Coast climate is not as favourable as most parts of Now Zealand, and on account of the difficulty of obtinlng r.urscs and probationers, that 10 per cent, be added to the classification.—(lnarguhua.) That ub probationer shall ba deemed to •have completed her training «b ;i nurse or be entitled to registration until she shall have served at least six months in one of the small country hospitals.— (Kaipara.) That probationer 'nurses who have served at least one year in a smaller country hospital shall have preference of employment as probationers in the larger institutions of tho Dominion; and (lint at. least six months of her service'in tho country hospital shall be deemed as part of her course of training.—{Kaipara.) That ! 11 hospital nurses have the privilege to subscribe to a superannuation scheme, on the same basis as civil sorMints.—(Taranaki.) . MISCELLANEOUS. ! That this conference considers it advisable that an Act of Parliament be passed to provide State farms, industrial homes, or other suitable places of health rostraint for tho detention an.', enforced labour of confirmed drunkards or other self-indulgonts' who, having wife and family, incapacitate themselves from wage-earning or spend an undue share of their earnings on themselves, thus leaving the maintenance of aforesaid wife and family to tho Charitable, Aid Boards of their districts. That the time spent in such homes, etc., bo in proportion to the number of convictions, and that tne earnings of such individuals be 'handed to thoir respective boards for tho benefit of their families.—(Nelson.) That the recommendation of the Chief Health Officer to place tho sanitary under the sole control of tho Public Health Department, and to make their salaries wholly payable by the same, should be given effect to.—(Kaipara.) That *ho Department of Public Health bo asked to clearly indicato its policy and ideas as to whether it should be the duty of the department or hospital boards to erect and maintain institutions for the curative treatment of early cases of consumption, and that the Government be urged to provide pensions or financial assistance for tho dependants of consumptive patients who aro compelled to seek institutional or other treatment for their complaints.—(Southland.)