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Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1932, Page 4

The annual report of the DirectorGeneral of Mental Hospitals submitted to Parliament last wtok shows an increasing number of patients in the hospitals of the Dominion. The re-' port says it is impossible ,to view with equanimity the steadily mounting number of patients in the hospitals, and their increasing ratio to the general population tabling figures which show that the -average annual increase has grown from 79 in the quinquennium 1876-89. to 239 in the quinquennium 1926-30. In , the period 1891 to 1981 tho ratio of registered patients and boarders in mental hospitals to the general population has increased from one to 841 to one of 209. In view of the increasing shortage of aocommridntion and the reia-' tively expensive kind cf care und treatment provided, continues the report, the question arises whether the best and most economical use is being made of the mental hospitals, In December last there were 500 people of 70 years and more in mental hospitals, of whom at least 850 did not require the ' kind of oar-e provided. Tlie total number of patients had increased from 1849 in 1891 to 6922 in 1931. The report draws attention to the shortage of accommodation and the need of maintaining a stendy programme of building. Further figures are given of the proportions of first admissions to general population, showing that during-the last 20 years there has been a definite though irregularly progressive increase in the incidence of mental disorder in New Zealand.,