HOSPITAL BOARDS' CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1917, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARDS' CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The conference approved of the staii-. dardisation, as far as possible, of goods and medicines used in hospitals, anJ that the Department should undertake the importation and distribution of hospital supplies. The Minister considered the suggestions practicable, and suggested that a coiryiittec be Set up to meet himself and the Inspector-General, to discuss the details of the distribution question. The following remits were adopted: ''That the Government he asked to repeal the fourth schedule to the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1901), and to amend section 3S (sub-section 2) in such a manner as to provide that a more equitable rate of subsidy be paid throughout the Dominion on all contributions paid by contributory local authorities on account of expenditure other than capital expenditure." ''That a Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards' Association he formed on similar lines to the Municipal Association of New Zealand."

GOVERNMENT PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES. The conference ndoptcd (lie report, 'from the committee which conferral Willi the Minister on the question of the purchase of supplies. It recommended that the Boards prepare schedules of supplies obtained during the past year under the headings of "Drugs and Surg;cnl Requisites," "Furniture and Hospital Equipment,", and other recurring items. The committee did not consider it po ■■ silile at present to apply'' the scheme to provisions, but recommended that a committee of management be set up. comprising the Inspector-General and other members of the Public Service ■whose? Departments are large purchasers of stores, with the chairmen of the Wellington Christchm-ch; Dunedin, and Auckland Boards, or their delegates. It was considered that at first purchase; should be confined to the lines most largely used in all hospitals, and that tenders should be invited by the High Commissioner, for such goods as must be imported, and by tin Secretary o' the Bureau for those obtainable in New Zealand, the cost of the supplhs in no case to exceed the amount paid by the Boards ir the previous rear.