THE HOSPITALS BILL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1922, Page 4

THE HOSPITALS BILL

PLEA FOR DELAY REFUSED. METHOD OF APPOINTMENTS By Telegraph.—Press Associ&tloi.. Wellington, Last Night. In the House this afternoon the Public Health Committee reported the Hospital and Charitable Aid Amendment Bill, with amendments. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) voiced the Southland Medical Association’s objection to clause 25, and asked the Minister to delay the passage of the Bill till February, when the British Medical Association was meeting, and full opinion on the measure could bp obtained. Other members supported the appeal for delay. The Hon. C. J. Parr, in reply, said no Bill this session had been so fully consitiored from one end of the Dominion to thd other during the past seven weeks as this Bill, and therefore he could not see his way to postpone the measure. The objection to clause 2 had been overcome by taking away from the Minister the power of appointments and giving him the right of recommending the most suitable medical officers and matrons. If a board did not see fit to accept his recommendation they cGukl make what appointment they liked, but they must take the responsibility. He thought the clause as amended w’ould do good, as in nine cases out of ten he believed the advice of the department would be taken.