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In such a building, with proper organization, overhead charges for amenities are no longer crippling. It should be possible to include communal services such as canteen, laundries, central rest-room and first-aid room, garages and cycle-sheds, and washing and sanitary accommodation at a reasonable per capita charge. An extension of communal facilities is possible in the direction of a repair-shop and certain machinery that is not in constant use by any one firm. Cleaning and maintenance staff and nightwatchmen can also be shared, while it can be assumed that a high standard of lighting, heating, and ventilation will be ensured throughout the building. As many of the existing small factories are dependent to a large extent on female labour, much of it, too, part-time labour of married women, a flatted factory affords an opportunity of attracting more of this labour by providing creches and nursery schools, either on the premises or in close proximity. If only one such flatted factory could be put up in the next five years in each of the main industrial centres and administered under the Labour Department, a very real contribution to clearing the factory slums could be made. GENERAL Milk-in-schools Scheme During the year the operation of this scheme has been materially affected bv the poliomyelitis epidemic and the resultant closing of schools. Otherwise every effort has been made to continue supplies on the same basis as last year. Apples-in-schools Scheme During last year 33,844 cases of apples, comprised of 31,344 to primary and secondary schools and 2,500 to correspondence schools, were supplied to pupils attending these schools. Boards Associated with the Department The Board of Health, the Medical and Dental Councils, the Medical Research Council, the Nurses and Midwives Board, the Opticians Board, the Masseurs Registration Board, the Medical Advertisements Board, the Plumbers Board, the King George Y Memorial Fund Board, and the Dominion Advisory Board of the New Zealand Federation of Health Camps continued their activities during the year. I regret to record the resignation of Sir Donald McGavin from the Medical Council, the Board of Health, and the Medical Research Council. As the representative of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association, Sir Donald had been a member of the Medical Council since 1928 and was also Chairman during the five years preceding his resignation. His services have been of great value to the bodies concerned. South Pacific Health Service The agreement for the establishment of a South Pacific Health Service between the Government of New Zealand (in respect of New Zealand island territories, including Western Samoa), the Government of Fiji, and the Eastern Pacific High Commission will expire in September, 1948, when an opportunity will be taken to review the position. The activities of this Service have been greatly handicapped by the extreme difficulty encountered in finding medical staff for island positions.

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