H—3l

(4.) Inspections Regular inspections on the medical, engineering, and architectural aspects and on the administrative side have not been possible to the extent that is desirable. There has been some strengthening on the administrative side, but a further increase in staff is necessary, and from the professional and technical aspects is regarded as a matter of urgency if delays are to be overcome. (5) Hospital Employment Regulations Following consideration of the recommendations of Hospital Board Salaries Advisory Committees, salary scales and conditions of employment have been prescribed by regulations affecting several classes of Hospital Board employees whose conditions of •employment are not governed by awards or industrial agreements : Glass of Employee. Regulations. Physio-therapists and students . . . . Hospital Employees Regulations 1948, Amendment No. 1 (1948/108) ; Amendment No. 5 (1948/218). Hospital bacteriologists and other laboratory Hospital Employees Regulations 1948, workers .. . . .. . . Amendment No. 2 (1948/192). Radiographers and other x-ray workers .. Hospital Employees Regulations 1948, Amendment No. 3 (1948/216). Dietitians and students .. .. .. Hospital Employees Regulations 1948, Amendment No. 4 (1948/217). Medical officers, Group No. 1 (house surgeons Hospital Employees Regulations 1948, and registrars) .. .. .. .. Amendment No. 6 (1948/219). Medical officers, Group No. 2 (medical superin- Hospital Employees Regulations 1948, tendents, specialists, and other whole-time Amendment No. 7 (1949/19). medical officers) Nurses had been dealt with in the previous year. There are some 500 to 600 employees whose remuneration and conditions of employment are not yet governed by regulations under the Hospitals Act. They comprise part-time medical officers numbering about 150, clerical officers (180), engineers (50), -and a variety of smaller classes, including orthopaedic technicians, male nurses, occupational therapists, dentists, architects, works superintendents, &c. The setting-up of special Salaries Advisory Committees to deal with these smaller classes appears impracticable, and consideration is being given to the question of a general Committee undertaking the task of reporting on claims and submissions. Arrangements are also being made for the early review of scales and conditions previously issued affecting the larger classes of employees. DIVISION OF CHILD HYGIENE Medical officers and District Nurses continued throughout the year the departmental policy of health supervision of pre-schoo], primary, and secondary school children. In general, the health of these children was good. The policy of thorough individual examinations of the pre-school child by the medical officer in the presence of the parent is bearing fruit. Medical officers are finding that advice and encouragement given in the toddler years is remembered by parents, and that this form of health education, through individual interviews and instruction, markedly lessens the health defects found in the school years. Health supervision in primary schools is most active, and medical officers find the most co-operation where the school has a '* live " parent-teacher committee or association. Medical officers who have worked in the Department for some years report that the standard of health and nutrition has improved of recent years, and certainly this year's-statistics bear this out.

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