SOCIAL DISEASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1943, Page 2

SOCIAL DISEASE

WASSERMAN TEST URGED

MASTERTON RESOLUTION.

- MINISTER OF HEALTH'S REPLY.

At a meeting held in Masterton on October 6, at which an address was given on social diseases by Dr. Hubert Smith, a resolution was passed that: '“This meeting of 120 citizens of Masterton urges the Government in the interests of the whole community and 'especially of the women and children to take urgent steps to arrange for the Test for all pregnant women and for all persons about to , marry.” The following reply has been received by Dr. John Rich, of Masterton, who •'presided at the meeting, from the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer: “Further to my letter of 29th ultimo concerning the resolution carried by the representative meeting of various organisations at Masterton, I have to advise that the Director-General of Health has furnished me with his comments on the suggestions put forward. “To give effect to the proposals that all pregnant women and all persons about to marry should undergo a Wasserman Test would involve the carrying out of approximately 65,000 examinations per annum in addition to those at present being undertaken, and would be beyond the capacity of the existing laboratory facilities in the Dominion. You will readily realise the amount of work which would be involved and which would require the service of a large number of highly skilled technicians who are not available at the present time. In the circumstances, therefore, I regret that it is not possible to give effect to the suggestions put forward but they will be kept in view for consideration when conditions return to normal.”