H.—3l

8

Maori Hygiene. The report of the Director of the Division of Maori hygiene is very well worth reading, and testifies to the work of Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa, D.S.O. The fine work of the Maori health nurses calls for special mention as also that of the Maori Councils. The investigations into the physique of the Maoris are of much interest. ■: Government Hospitals and Sanatoria. Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer Springs. —It is hoped that with the erection of new quarters for women (now in progress) the work of this institution will be considerably expanded under Dr. Chisholm's very able and economical administration. King George V Hospital, Rotorua. —The report of this hospital again reflects great credit on Dr. Wallis, the Medical Superintendent, and his staff. It is hoped that the institution will be considerably developed in the course of the ensuing year. Pukeora Sanatorium, Waipukurau. —Dr. H. Short, the Medical Superintendent, and his staff still continue to perform most useful work. I regret that the Department is losing the services of Dr. Short, but it is to be hoped that we may still avail, ourselves of his services at his present headquarters in Wellington. Otaki Sanatorium and Otaki Hospital.-— These institutions do good work. It is regretted that the cases still continue to be admitted to the sanatorium when the disease is in a rather advanced stage after. unsuccessful home treatment. I entirely agree with the Medical Superintendent that the sanatorium should be the line of first defence, and in this direction the experience of Dr. Short, Pukeora Sanatorium, is more encouraging. SECTION S.—BOARD OF HEALTH, ETC!. The Board of Health continues to perform good work. Several meetings were held during the year, and a mass of business dealt with. Requisitions were served upon a number of local bodies, requiring the performance of sanitary works. Early in the year the Board set up a committee to inquire and report regarding the private maternity hospitals of the Dominion. A report containing many useful recommendations was received and adopted, by the Board. Later in the year three members of the Board were appointed members of a Commission which investigated and reported upon an outbreak of puerperal septicaemia in an Auckland private hospital, and at the present time the Board is represented by three of its members upon the committee which is taking evidence with a view to reporting upon mental defectives and sexual offenders. Medical Practitioners Act, 1914. Four meetings of the Medical Board were held during the year under review. The following table, covering the past five years, summarizes the Board's work so far as the granting of applications by medical men for registration, &c., are concerned :—

The work of the Medical Board is largely of a confidential nature, and involves inquiries into charges of misconduct which from time to time are made against medical practitioners. A number of such cases have been dealt with during the year. The Board has under consideration at the moment some suggested amendments to the Act which, if passed into law, should improve the present statute. Masseurs Registration Act, 1920. The Masseurs Registration Board, having completed the rush of work associated with the introduction of a registration law, has found it unnecessary to hold many meetings during the past year. The Board deserves to be, congratulated on the smooth manner in which it has administered the Act. There has been only one appeal from the Board's decisions, and this appeal has not yet been disposed of. The Board has submitted suggestions for an amendment to the Act, and it is hoped that these will be given effect to during the present session of Parliament. The, Register of Masseurs contains 397 names. Plumbers Registration Act, 1912. Two meetings of the Plumbers Board constituted under the above Act were held during the year. Examinations under the Act were held, in June and November. At the June examination 157 candidates presented themselves for examination, the results being that twenty-one candidates passed

1919. 1920. 1921. 1923. 1922. I [umber on register on 1st January lumber added during year by registration [umber added during year by restoration lumber removed during year on evidence, of death [umber removed during year by direction of Medical Board — Ceased to practise Letter not delivered and returned to Registrar-General .. Reported dead [umber removed during year by direction of Supreme Court 985 48 3 20 1,015 71* 5 25 1,064 601 4 10 1,071 33} 1 8 1,073 761, 1 11 1 40 7 1 21 2 2 1 1,015 1,064 1,071 1,073 1,138 ♦Includes 30 with New Zealand qualifications. f Includes 28 il with New Zealand qualifications. § Includes 59 with New Zcala with Nci und quali Zealand ieations. qualificati ions. Includes