PUBLIC HEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 184, 5 August 1936, Page 11

PUBLIC HEALTH.

CARE OF CHILDREN.

SCHOOL MILK SUPPLIES,

CROWDED MENTAL HOSPITALS

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

"In the view of the Government, among the most urgent matters requiring attention are more adequate provision for safeguarding the health of tile people, better facilities for education and greater assistance to the aged and infirm," said the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, in presenting the Budget. "In the field of health activities provision is made in the Estimates for the appointment of additional officers for the school medical service and a con-

siderable expansion of the dental service

To permit of these services being made available in all districts, approximately double the present number of trained dental nurses is needed, but by taking immediate steps to increase the number of .trainees it is anticipated that staff requirements will be fully met within a few years. A properly equipped training school for the training of students is to be established in °Wellington."

| A daily supply of milk for children at school was another matter receiving attention, and provision was made on the Estimates for the inauguration of that important service, said the Minister. Owing to the varving circumstances it would probably be necessary to deal with each centre separately, but by next year the service should be fairly general throughout the Dominion. Grants to the Plunket Society had been restored to the former level. The Government was also concerned to raise the standard of health of the Maori, and for this purpose seven additional nuises and six additional inspectors are beng appointed to the Maori hyo-iene service. ' c

Increased requirements of hospital boards were reflected in an increase of approximately £78,000 in subsidies payable under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. The chief factors in the increase, apart from iestoration of salary and wage cuts, were improvements in the staff conditions and hours of duty, and better and

more extensive facilities for treatment on the institutional side. These and other items had increased the vote for health by £140,000. Overcrowded Mental Hospitals. Mr. Nash also drew attention to mental hospitals, which were accommodating nearly a thousand patients more than their proper quota, a state of overcrowding that called for immediate action. Provision had also to be made for an annual increase of about 250 patients. At the present time the Government was taking definite steps to alleviate conditions and had under construction accommodation for approximately 600 patients. "These mental hospital works include four villas for 100 men and 100 women at Kingseat, Auckland; two villas for 100 men at Tokanui, in the Waikato; three villas for 150 women at Ngawhatu, Nelson; one villa for 50 women at Hokitika; and two villas for 100 men at Templeton Farm, Christchurch," stated the Minister. "The latter institution was started in 1930, and two of the villas at present under construction are set apart for children. There is now at this home an adult section as well as the children's section, and when the present villas are completed there will be proper accommodation for 400 feeble-minded persons. Apart from accommodation for patients, many of the administrative buildings, such as stores, kitchens, and bakehouses, have become inadequate to deal with present requirements. Furthermore, some of tile buildings (particularly at Seacliff Nelson) have reached a. stage where' replacement is becoming necessary. Thus, if overcrowding is to be avoided and a proper standard of accommodation maintained, we must have an extensve building programme for some time to come."