H.—3l

Dental Hygiene. The report of Mr. T. A. Hunter shows the extent of the work accomplished by his Division, engaged in a most important sphere of preventive medicine. The total of 390,038 dental operations having been performed since 1923 by dental nurses in the field affords distinct evidence as to the needfc of their service and the extent to which they are used. The highly satisfactory results of the examination of the dental nurses indicates the high standard of the service rendered by the instructional officers. Nursing. Miss Bicknell's report rightly acknowledges the support given to the Department in the introduction of the post-graduate course for nurses. Maori Hygihne. I regret to report that in the early part of this year the Department lost the services of Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa (Dr. Buck), who was naturally tempted to take up work in which he has ever shown an absorbing interest by accepting a position under the Anthropological Branch of the Rockefeller Foundation. Dr. Ellison bids fair to make an excellent successor to Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa. New Health District. The scherhe outlined in my last annual report, in the establishment of the new health district for the major portion of the Taranaki Provincial District, has proved satisfactory. A new health district on the same basis is being formed for the East Cape district of the North Island, with a Medical Officer to be stationed at Gisborne. Board or Health. Quarterly meetings of the Board were held during the year. Requisitions were served upon a number of local authorities as to the carrying-out of certain sanitary works. The Board also considered the question of medical research, concerning which a very interesting report was submitted by my colleague, Dr. Watt. During the year the appointments of Sir Lindo Ferguson, Dr. J. S. Elliott, and Mr. Murdoch Fraser expired, and their places were taken by Professor A. M. Drennan, Dr. W. Irving, and Mr. C. M. Luke. The Department is much indebted .to the members of the Board for their valuable help. Medical Practitioners Act, 1914. Four meetings of the Medical Council were held during the year under review. The following table, covering the past five years, summarizes the Board's work so far as the granting of applications by medical men for registration, &c., are concerned : —

* Includes 59 with New Zealand qualifications. | Includes 67 with New Zealand qualifications. J Includes 59 with New Zealand qualifications. § Includes 69 with New Zealand qualifications. || Includes 38 with New Zealand qualifications. The work of the Medical Council is largely of a confidential nature, and involves inquiries into charges of misconduct which from time to time are made against medical practitioners. A number of such cases have been dealt with during the year. Plumbers Registration Act, 1912. Two meetings of the Plumbers Board constituted under this Act were held during the year. Examinations under the Act were held in June and October. A total of 434 candidates presented themselves for examination, the results being that eighty-nine passed in the theoretical part and ninety-three in the practical; sixty-four qualified or completed in both parts of the examination and were duly granted registration. The Gazette notice for 1927 contains the names of 1,390 plumbers. Masseurs Registration Board. During the year the Board met four times. Overseas Candidates. —Amended regulations were gazetted to allow the Board more latitude with regard to the registration of overseas candidates, principally providing for candidates who have partly qualified in the United Kingdom to complete their examinations after additional training at the Otago Massage School.

4

1923. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. Number on register on 1st January .. .. 1,073 1,138 1,204 1,211 1,283 Number added during year .. .. 77* 85f 78J 94§ 54jj Number removed during year .. .. 12 19 71 22 17 Number on register at end of year .. .. 1,138 1,204 1,211 1,283 1,320