B.—4a

Dental Hygiene Administration. Item—Dental Clinics, Expenses of, £7,000. ~ Travelling Allowances and Expenses, £1,900. 672. We have already dealt with the general position in regard to the Division of Dental Hygiene, and have recommended savings aggregating £12,490. Included therein was an amount of £150 on account of uniforms for nurses. We consider that nurses should be required to provide their own uniforms. We have also dealt with the general question of travelling-expenses in connection with general administration. Incidental reductions in these two items are accordingly involved, but they have already been taken into account. Maori Hygiene Administration. Item —General Expenses, &c., £2,300. ~ Supply of Medicines, £1,350. ~ Travelling Allowances and Expenses, £1,800. 673. This part of the Department's activities has also been dealt with, and there will be incidental savings in connection with these items, which have already been included in the saving of £2,000 previously referred to. _ . 674. While we consider there should be a reduction in the service given by the Health Department to the extent of at least £2,000 we are also of opinion that some contribution should be obtained from the Maori Purposes Fund, or some other fund which exists for the benefit of the Maori population, towards the cost of Maori hygiene which falls on general taxation. We recommend that one-half of the cost be recouped from one or more of the funds referred to. Further saving, £3,000. School Hygiene Administration. Item —Uniform, Allowances to Nurses for, £350. 675. It is the practice to provide school nurses with uniforms, and in dealing with the general question of school hygiene we recommended that this practice be discontinued. Estimated saving not previously taken into account, £350. Grants-in-aid. Item —Auckland City Mission, £300. „ Mount Magdala Asylum, £486. ~ Wellington City Mission, £150. „ New Zealand Farmers' Union (Women's Division), £150. 676. While many kindred institutions are maintained by voluntary contributions the above receive Government subsidies, which should be discontinued as soon as possible. . Royal New Zealand Society for Health of Women and Children. Item —Maintenance of Karitane Hospitals, £5,300. Grants towards Salaries. Item —Director, £315. ~ Assistant Director, £135. ~ Secretary, £203. ~ Typist and Clerical Assistance, £113. Incidental Grants. Item—Railway Passes, &c., £900. „ Upkeep of Cars, £380. Subsidies towards Salaries of Plunket Nurses, £15,115. 677. The foregoing all relate to the Plunket Society, the total being £22,461. It appears to us that this society is obtaining a greater proportion of State assistance than is warranted. In 1917-18 the total grants to the society were £3,641, the bulk of which was in respect of the salaries of Plunket nurses. It was not until 1918-19 that any grant was made towards the maintenance of Karitane Hospitals, and in that year the amount was only £750. The total provision now made is £22,461, and this is too large a proportion of the available funds. The societies throughout New Zealand have considerable cash resources, as witness the fact that on the 31st March, 1931, they held £29,657 in cash while the cash held by the various Karitane Hospitals totalled £3,375. 678. It is a striking commentary on the extent to which the State is now providing social services for the community generally that an organization which started on a purely voluntary basis should now be receiving State assistance to the extent of over £20,000 per annum. The financial position could be improved and the liability on the State lessened if the society imposed a charge on those receiving advice or attention who can afford to pay. We see no reason why such an extensive service should be provided on an entirely gratuitous basis. We realize the excellent work which has been carried out by the society. In our view, however, the country cannot afford the present cost, and we recommend an immediate reduction in the foregoing items of 33J per centum and a further reduction in 1933-34 of 16§ per centum, or a total reduction in two years of 50 per centum. Saving in 1932-33, £7,250.

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