BACKLOCK WANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1920, Page 5

BACKLOCK WANTS.

BETTER MEDICAL ATTENTION. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Mr. R. Masters (member for Stratford) in asking the Minister of Public Health' ii he will, with a view to reducing the great? disabilities and heavy expense imposed on settlers and others of small means living in the country districts, pcrticularly the backblockg, in obtaining medical assistance and nuraing cave for their wives in time of maternity, take steps this session to grant a subsidy to those hospital districts in which the State haa not established, or assisted to establish^. maternity homes, of £3 to £l, in order to encourage and help thp smaller hospital boards to establish such needed homes as maternity institutions.

'' The member for Stratford mentions that the country districts have just reat'aon for complaint against the Govern'ment, inasmuch as the State finds the whole or the greater part of the cost of the establishment of maternity hpines in the cities, while the smaller hqspital districts 'in the country are not so favored. Such homes are-more essential in the country districts, considering the difficulty and expense in the way of obtaining prompt medical and nursing attention in times of maternity and family sickness.