71. -31

1919. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID. REPORT THEREON BY THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS AND CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER.

Presented in pursuance of Section 76 of the, Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1918.

REPORT. The Inspector-General of Hospitals and Chief Health Officer to the Hon. the Minister of Public Health. Department, of Public Health, Hospitals, and Charitable Aid, Sir, — Wellington, Ist August, 1919. I have the honour to lay before you the report of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1919. The year has, without doubt, been the most outstanding in the history of the Department, because of the visitation of the deadly influenza pandemic. This is the subject of a special article by Dr. Makgill, which appears as Appendix A hereto. Further, it is also dealt with in the report of the Royal Commission appointed for the purpose, so that I do not propose to enlarge further on the matter. Following on the pandemic was the full realization of the restricted scope and power of the Department under the Public Health Act and the consequent necessity for fresh legislation. With what was done in the short space of time available to Parliament it is not possible to make great headway. The main feature of the new legislation was the setting-up of an advisory body known as the Board of Public Health, which, as a result of its deliberations, may help the Department to secure sanitary progress. My proposals for reorganizing and strengthening the Department have already been placed before you in a memorandum of which the following is a precis : — Reorganization of Department. A. conference of medical officers of the Department was called. After fully explaining the position in which the Department was situated and comparing it with other Departments of the State, which were in a very much better position as regards staff and organization, largely owing to their being revenue-producing Departments, those present were invited to give their opinions as to the best method of enlarging the scope and functions of the Department so that it might more effectually control epidemics such as the country had just experienced, and better carry out other duties imposed on it —at present impossible owing to the lack of sufficient medical officers. Board of Health. —The Board of Health proposed to be set up as a result of the amendments to the Public Health Act passed during the last session was unanimously approved. The Chief Health Officer should be designated Director-General of Public Health, and be the Chairman of the proposed Board and the Chief Executive Officer. The Director-General of Public Health should be given extended powers to deal with the local authorities upon the recommendations of the Board of Public Health. Statistical Officer. —A special medical officer should be appointed to control the work of compiling statistical information concerning the incidence of the various diseases throughout the Dominion and the localities in which prevalent.