H—7

1947 NEW ZEALAND

MENTAL HOSPITALS OF THE DOMINION (REPORT ON) FOR 1946

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 78 of the Mental Defectives Act, 1911

The Hon. M. B. Howard, Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals, Wellington. Madam, — Wellington, 6th June, 1947. I have the honour to present the annual report upon the work of the Mental Hospitals Department for the year ended 31st December, 1946. Portion of this report was prepared by Dr. T. G. Gray prior to his relinquishing his position as Director-General of the Department on 31st January, 1947. lam certain it is the wish of the New Zealand Government to extend to him thanks for his services, during the whole period of which he showed great zeal in his endeavours to better the conditions and treatment of patients under his care. Dr. Gray's medical colleagues and the whple of the staff of the Mental Hospitals Department extend to him their best wishes in his retirement. J. Russell, Acting Director-General. Dr. Gray reports : Madam, — I have the honour to present my annual report on the work of the Mental Hospitals Department for the year ended 31st December, 1946. Statistical At the end of the year there were 9,004 names of persons upon our registers, including 43 patients at Ashburn Hall private licensed institution and 787 patients who were absent on probation in care of relatives and friends. In actual residence in our ten State hospitals on 31st December there were 8,174 persons, an increase of 133 compared with last year, and of this number 7,799 were patients who had been committed and 375 were voluntary boarders. There were 1,627 patients and boarders admitted for the first time, an increase of 150 over the previous year, of whom 1,165 were the subject of a reception order and 462 were voluntary boarders.