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1930. NE W ZEAL A N D.

MENTAL HOSPITALS OF THE DOMINION (REPORT ON) FOR 1929.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Hon. the Minister in Charge of Department of Mental Hospitals to His Excellency the Governor-General. Sir, — Wellington, Ist July, 1930. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report for the year 1929 of the DirectorGeneral of Mental Hospitals. I have, &c., A. J. Stallworthy, Minister in Charge of Department of Mental Hospitals.

The Director-General to the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister in Charge of the Department of Mental Hospitals. Sir, — Wellington, Ist July, 1930. 1 have the honour to present the annual report upon the mental hospitals of the Dominion for the year ending 31st December, 1929. The number of persons under care and treatment at the end of the year was 6,348, of whom 6,093 had been committed under a Magistrate's reception order, and 255 had been received upon their own application as voluntary boarders. The net total increase of population at the close of the period under review was 188 persons. The committals numbered 956, or the same as last year, but the applications for voluntary admission were 258, or 32 less. This drop in the number of voluntary boarders is due, I believe, in some measure to the fact that patients who would formerly have come to us in this way are now treated as out-patients at the clinics conducted by our medical officers at the general hospitals. Of the total admissions 21-25 per cent, were on a voluntary basis. During the year 518 patients and voluntary boarders were discharged as recovered, which is 42-6 per cent, calculated upon the admissions. Of the voluntary boarders 88 per cent, recovered and were discharged within twelve months, while the figure in the case of committed patients, whose mental disorder is generally well advanced when they come to the institution, was 30-23 per cent. Method op Committal. Considerable advantage has been taken during the year of the alternative method of committal provided by section 8 of the Mental Defectives Amendment Act. Under this section the magisterial examination of patients takes place at the mental hospital instead of, as formerly, at the Magistrate's Court, and no less than 157, or 16-4 per cent., of the total committals were effected in this way. 1 desire to place on record my appreciation of the co-operative spirit shown by the Magistrates, who have uncomplainingly carried out the extra duty imposed upon them under the Act.

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