H.—3l.

of this policy the following institutions, other than sanatoria mentioned elsewhere in this report, were transferred to the Hospital Boards named during the past year : — Name of Institution. Hospital Board. King George V Hospital, Rotorua . . Waikato Hospital Board, Hamilton. St. Helens Hospital, Wanganui . . . . Wanganui Hospital Board, Wanganui. St. Helens Hospital, Gisborne . . . . Cook Hospital Board, Gisborne. The transfer of control was effected without hitch, and in each case the institution, fully equipped, was handed over to the Hospital Board free of cost. Full statistical and financial information with regard to hospitals and institutions under the control of Boards will be published as a special Appendix to this report at a later date, when the returns from Boards' Secretaries are all to hand. Maori Hygiene. —The Medical Research Council of Great Britain awarded Dr. H. B. Turbott, Medical Officer of Health, Gisborne, a Dorothy Temple Cross Fellowship, which enabled him to carry out an investigation into the question of tuberculosis among the Maori people in a selected area of his district. His report, which has been presented to the Medical Research Council, is partly of a clinical nature, but also covers a full investigation into the housing and nutrition of the subjects examined. It is gratifying to note that there has been this measure of co-operation between New Zealand and Great Britain in regard to medical research, and it is hoped that this may be the forerunner of similar investigations into medical matters of common interest to Great Britain and New Zealand. The death-rate amongst Maoris for 1933 was 16-22, which represents a slight fall on that recorded for 1932, namely, 17-06. The infantile-mortality rate was 92-61 per l,oo(Mive births, as compared with 95-45 for the previous year. It is hoped that by the extension of the special educative endeavours and the issue of the pamphlet in English and Maori on maternal and infant welfare this reduction in the infantile-mortality rate will be the forerunner of many more, and so in time bring this high figure more in line with the rate for Europeans. There has been a further increase in the Maori birth-rate, which for 1933 was 41-20 per 1,000 of the Maori population, as against 39-28 for 1932. The excess of births over deaths gives the Maori race the high and very satisfactory natural increase of 2-50 per cent. The death-rate for puerperal causes was 8-14, which represents an increase over the figure for 1932, which was 7-29 per 1,000 live births. The death-rate for all forms of tuberculosis (36-20) showed a reduction on the rate for the previous year (41-65), due entirely to a reduction in the number of deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis. The number of deaths from typhoid fever and dysentery has not shown any great variation during the past three years, the rates for 1933 per 10,000 of the population being 1-54 and 1-40. During the year 1933, 261 notifications in respect of Maoris suffering from notifiable diseases were received ; of these, 115 were pulmonary tuberculosis and 90 enteric fever. Details and comments regarding the notification of diseases amongst Maoris are given in the report of the Director, Division of Public Hygiene. A statistical summary relating to the work of district nurses is given in the report of the Director, Division of Nursing. A large number of the Maori Councils still function actively, and in those districts where there is a large Maori population are proving of great assistance to the Medical Officers of Health. Health Education. —An important part of the Department's responsibility is the instruction of the public in the principles and practice of hygiene. In addition to what was done by personal interviews, lectures were delivered by officers to various organizations, articles contributed to the press, and addresses broadcast through the courtesy of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board. A wide circulation has been given to leaflets relating to maternal and child welfare, infectious diseases, dental hygiene, and the health of school-children, &c. Students of the Medical School, Otago University, largely availed themselves of the services of the Department's officers and library in the preparation of thesis set by the Professor of Public Health and Bacteriology of that University. Boards associated with the Department. —The various Boards associated with the Department— namely, the Board of Health, Medical Council, Plumbers Board, Opticians Board, Masseurs Board, Nurses and Midwives Registration Board—have continued their work during the year. Reference to the work of the last-mentioned Board will be found in the report of the Director, Division of Nursing. The Department acknowledges its indebtedness to the members of these Boards for their able service. Staff. —I regret to record the death of Mr. C. S. Allan, a highly esteemed member of the staff. For fourteen years Mr. Allan rendered the Department and Hospital Boards service of great value in connection with hospital construction and hospital engineering. He will be missed by his colleagues and a wide circle of friends throughout the Dominion. Mr. W. A. MacGregor, Inspector of Health, Masterton, was another highly esteemed and loyal officer, whose death has meant a distinct loss to the Department. In conclusion, I wish to express thanks for the support rendered me by officers during the year. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health.

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