MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 13 January 1913, Page 2

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

VISIT TO POVERTY BAY

(Per Press Association.)

Gisborne, January 12

Mr Herries and Mr Fraser arrived at Opotiki bj motor yesterday afternoon. Mr Herries received a large Maori deputation, and Mr Fraser was waited upon by representatives of the County Council, Railway League, and Settlers’ Association, with reference to railways and district roads. In

reply to a question as to the proposed loan of £4OOO for a dray road to Waioeka, Mr Fraser said that until Mr Allen raised a loan they would only have half the amount required to meet the votes on the Estimates, but as soon as money was provided it would be available for the work in question. The Railway League asked that a railway should be started at Opotiki ot the vicinity, and it was suggested that when the ‘ Gisborne-Rotorua line reached Motu the whole of the money available for the line should be spent in the Bay of Plenty, and that comparatively unsettled portions between Motu and Opotiki should be linked up. The Minister said that he could not say whether the money would be divided between the two ends of the line, but there was something in the argument that Opotiki should be connected with the port of Ohiwa, and he would give the matter consideration. He expressed the opinion that there was a great future before this country. The Ministers were entertained at a social in the evening.

THE CHILDREN’S HEALTH

Rotorua, January 12,

The Hon.' Mr Rhodes to-day formally opened the new cottage hospital and infectious diseases hospital. Dr. Valintine was also present. In the course of a speech the Minister said that it had been represented that the Plunket nurses might with advantage combine Plunket work with, maternity nursing. The, suggestion met with

the sympathy of the Department, and Dr. Truby King. Anqther, important branch of tjm Department’s work was the medipglj inspection] schools. He had just received the first reports of the officers appointed, which showed that a great deal remained to be done to ensure the health of *fiie 'Children ‘by l preventing disease's in early years. Four officers would shortly take up their duties in the Canterbury district. It came as a shock to him 'to 1 learn t'Aat of 3343 children examined/so large'a propor-j tibn need some form or other of medical treatment,’and 1 he was particularly astonished to find that of the children examined no fewer than 842 suffered from some form of physical deformity, 1321 from obstructed breathing, and no fewer than .1917 from defective teeth. Though these figures must not be taken as representative of the normal state of affairs, many children having been brought forward on account of suspected defects, the return showed that the late Government was fully justified in making appointments. In fact, other appointments would probably have to be made to cope with the work. As regards physical deformities, the recent appointment of a director of physical exercises should do a very-great deal to rectify them, as many of the defects are preventable and can be rectified by well-directed physical exercises.

Mr Rhodes expressed regret at the absence of Dr. Mohlmann, who had done such excellent work, gaining a world reputation, and all would agree with him in hoping that Dr. Wohlmann would soon return to carry on the. scientific work he had inaugurated.