H.—3l.

During the year a number of reference works were added to the library, which was also enriched by a collection of departmental reports and other publications obtained from overseas health authorities during the course of my study tour abroad. The library is now affiliated with the New Zealand Library Association. Boards associated with the Department. The Board of Health, Medical Council, Medical Research Council, Dental Council, Nurses and Midwives Registration Board, Opticians Board, Masseurs Registration Board, and the Plumbers Board continued their work during the year. Reference to the work of the Nurses and Midwives Registration Board appears in the report of the Director of the Division of Nursing. Medical Research Council. It is regretted that owing to paper shortage it is not possible at present to print the reports of the Medical Research Council. However, copies of the following are available'for those interested: Nutrition Committee; Obstetrical Committee; Thyroid Committee; Hydatid Committee; and Tuberculosis Committee. The Dental Committee's report is published in the New Zealand Dental Journal, September, 1939. The work of the Council has gone steadily forward, and a sum of £3,643 was expended during the year out of an amount of £7,655 available. The report of the Nutrition Committee contains a comprehensive diet survey carried out among basic-wage earners of New Zealand by Miss E. C. G Wilson, M.H.Sc. The results of an inquiry into the consumption of milk in rural households carried out by the Women's Institutes assisted by the Committee appears also in the report. The Thyroid Committee records the gazetting of amendments to the Sale of Pood and Drugs Regulations as relating to iodized salt. The level of iodine has now been raised to the amount recommended by the Medical Research Council. These regulations came into force on the Ist November, 1939. They provide that iodized salt shall be salt prepared for table or culinary use by the addition of potassium iodide (KI) or sodium iodide (Nal). It shall contain not less than 0-75 of a part and not more than 1-5 parts of iodine (calculated as potassium iodide) to every twenty thousand parts of salt. The Hydatid Committtee, as represented in the Department of Hydatid Research and Prevention, Medical School, Otago Univerity, was active in educational work and in chemical, laboratory, a,nd statistical research work. The Tuberculosis Committee's work developed along the following lines: Detection of tuberculosis among the Maoris; survey of tuberculosis among nurses; and finalizing of arrangements for the typing of tubercle bacilli. The Medical Officer for Obststrical Research, P. 0. Bennett, M.D., presented a report entitled " A Statistical Inquiry into the Incidence, &c., of the Toxaemia of Pregnancy in New Zealand." Reference to this and the work of the Obstetrical Committee appears in the report of the Director of Maternal Welfare. The Dental Committee was active in correlating all dental research work within the Dominion. The Medical Research Council is grateful for the assistance and advice given by the members of these committees. Overseas Study Tour. An account of my overseas study tour rendered possible through the generosity of the Rockefeller Foundation is published as a separate report. Recommendations for improvements in our own organization are included in this review of public-health administration in North America, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. Staff. In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks for the support rendered me by officers during the year. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health.

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