1. In 1936 the hospital problems posed by ever increasing numbers of injuries became so grave that an Interdepartmental Government Comnmittee was appointed to examine the hospital facilities then available for the treatment of accidental injuries. After a threeyear survey that committee reported in I939: 'The most striking feature is the situation disclosed as regards delay in many cases, even cases of serious injury in commencing treatment'. The conmmittee left unanswered the hospital organizational requirements essential to the prevention of such delays