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Tie system of control through district denial superintendents continues to be satisfactory as regards supervision over the work of the clinics and for economical administration. The co-operation received from the Denial Clinic Committees has contributed much to the successful operation of this branch of the Department's work. Hospitals. Hospital Boards have continued to co-operate with the Departmeni with a view to effecting economies, and hospital maintenance expenditure for the past pear shows a further reduction of approximately £75,000 compared with the previous war. The collection of patients' lees has grown more difficult owing to the prevailing financial position, and the drop in receipts under this heading largely accounted for Boards as a whole incurring a aei deficit of approximately £42,000. Departmeni is, however, keeping a close watch on the expenditure of Hoards by reviewing quarterly budge! statements, which all Boards are now required to submit. It will be observed from the report of the Director, Division of Hospitals, that as an economy measure a number of Boards have leased their smaller hospitals. Many of these institutions are. by reason ol the low number of patients treated, very costly to maintain.'and in view of the present means oi transport ii is often doubtful whether their continuance is merited. Full statistical and financial information with regard to hospitals and institutions under the control ol Boards will be published as a special appendix to this report at a later date when the returns from Boards' secretaries are all to hand. Maor, Hygiene. The death-rate amongsi Maoris was 17-06, as compared with 14-81 in 1931. There was a slighi fall in infant-mortality, the rate being 95-45 per 1,000 live births. In this connection special educational endeavours are being made to reduce deaths of infants to a figure more in line with the European rate. Suitable pamphlets have been issued on the proper methods of feeding and clothing of infants. The birth-rate of 39-28 represents a substantial rise in this rate. The excess of births over deaths continues to give the Maori a highly satisfactory natural increase. The death-rate for puerperal causes was 7-29 per 1,000 live births, five of the twenty deaths recorded being due to puerperal septicemia. Respiratory diseases were responsible for 16-29 per cent, of the total deaths. \ large number of deaths still occur from tuberculosis, the rate for all Eorms of this disease being 41-65 per 10,000. As a result of the co-ordination of Bchool medical inspection work and district auraing referred to in the report of the Director. Division of Nursing, closer upervision is being given to the health of the .Maori peo The statistical summary relating to the work of district nurses included in the aami repori -hows that 2,759 visits were paid t<. pas. Towards the end of 1932 the term of office of the majority of Maori Councils expired, and the new Council- appointed are working well <>n behalf of the Maori race. Health Education. During the year the work of health education has been continued on the lines described in previous reports. This work has included articles supplied to the press, educational talks broadcast through courtesy of the Radio Broadcasting Board, and addresses delivered to various organizations. In addition, information has been supplied from time to time to the health organization of the League of Nations, the International Union against Tuberculosis, the Social Eygiene Council, &c. On request from the Xew Zealand Institute papers on public-health problems relating to New Zealand were prepared by Dr. Duncan Cook, Dr. F. S. Maclean, and Dr. H. B. Turbott for presentation to the Fifth Pacific Science Congress, Canada, 1933. Boards Associated with Department. —The various Hoards associated with the Departmeni have continued their work during the year—namely, the Board of Health, Medical Council, Plumbers Hoard, Masseurs Registration Board, Opticians Hoard, and Nurses and Midwives Registration Hoard. Reference to the work of the last-mentioned body will he found in the report of the Director, Division of X ui.sing. During the year legislation was passed requiring medical practitioners, plumbers, masseurs, and opticians to obtain annual practising certificates, it being necessary to increase the revenue in each case to cover the costs of administering the governing law. The Department acknowledges its indebtedness to the members of these Boards for their able services. Staff.- During (lie year several oilicers retired from the Department on superannuation. In particular, I would refer to Mr. K. Cameron and Mr. M. Kershaw, Senior Inspectors of Health at Dunedin and Christchurch respectively, who had been associated with the Department for many vears. Both had proved themselves able officers. I have also to record with regret the death during the year of Miss Hester Maclean, R.R.C., Florence Nightingale Medallist, who had lived in retirement in Wellington lor some pears past, and who was formerly Director, Division of Nursing. Miss Lambie in her report refers moire fully to Miss Maclea distinguished career. The Department also lost the services of a number of officers who had been associated with it for a number of years through the transfer of the Otaki Sanatorium and the Bacteriological Laboratoi at Whangarei, Gisborne, and Invercargill to local Hospital Board control. In conclusion. 1 wish to express thanks for the support given me by officers of the Department throughout the year. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health.

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