H.—7.

The introduction of the forty-hour week at first, caused some inconvenience, but I am glad to state that the new regime now runs smoothly and happily. Naturally, there is some resultant congestion in staffing accommodation, but this will be overcome if the proposed alterations and additions to the Nurses' Home are made. The Psychiatric Clinic continues to function well. On the appointment of Dr. Hunter to the Kingseat Mental Hospital he took over the clinic on Thursday mornings, which hitherto had been conducted by Dr. Short. In severing my clinical relationship with Dr. Short I wish to record my thanks for his co-operation. The relative figures of the clinic are : — Thursdays Tuesdays. (Dr. Short and Total. Dr. Hunter). (1) Number of separate persons seen .. M. 283 83 366 F. 23 34 57 306 117 423 (2) Number of — (a) First visits .. .. .. .. 256 105 361 (b) Subsequent consultations .. .. 563 589 1,152 819 694 1,513 (3) Sources of reference — Tuesdays. Thursdays. Pensions Department .. .. .. 207 36 243 Medical practitioners .. .... 26 64 90 Voluntary calls .. .. ..27 17 44 Prisons Department .. .. 20 .. ' 20 Psychological Clinic .. .. I .. 1 Porirua Mental Hospital .. 1 .. 1 Police Department .. .. 5 . . 5 287 117 404 Monthly visits have been made by Dr. G. M. Tot-hill and myself to the Inebriates' Home on Rotoroa and Pakatoa Islands. An increasing number of prisoners has been seen in Mount Eden Prison and reported upon. In conclusion, I wish to record my thanks to the Medical Officers, the matrons, head attendant, clerk, and staff for their helpful co-operation during the year. The work of the medical officers is becoming increasingly onerous, and there is not any doubt but that we now require additional help. It says much for the keenness and strong sense of duty of these officers that they have carried on their added obligations conscientiously and without complaint.

KINGSEAT MENTAL HOSPITAL. Dr. Hunter, reports : — I have the honour to submit my annual report for the year ending 31st December, 1936. The total number of cases under care during the year was 610 (311 males and 299 females), with a weekly average of 443 cases. Three, male voluntary boarders were admitted during the year. At the end of the year 9 patients (5 males and 4 females) were on probation, and 10 patients (5 males and 5 females) were finally discharged. Deaths totalled 11 (6 males and 5 females). With the increasing size of the hospital it has been necessary to appoint a resident Medical Superintendent and a Clerk. This was done as soon as the two residences and the store, which were in the course of construction, were completed. Kingseat, although a separate hospital, had been administered in conjunction with the Auckland Mental Hospital, with Dr. Buchanan as Medical Superintendent of both hospitals, and I would like to record my appreciation of the work which he has done in connection with Kingseat. On my taking over in August of this year Kingseat began to function as a separate unit. The hospital consists of twelve separate villas, six for men and six for women, each villa being self-contained, including its own cooking facilities, this being appreciated very much by the patients and staff. Eleven of the villas are in charge of nurses, the remaining one being in charge of men, with a nurse assisting. During the year four new villas have been completed, two for men and two for women. These are occupied by the transfer from Porirua of 47 men and 50 women, and from Auckland of 8 men and 38 women, the remaining beds being occupied by the transference of our own patients from the Earm Ward and the camp. The camp and the Farm Ward were closed, and necessary alterations were made to the latter for the accommodation of additional male attendant staff. The completion and opening of the new store, along with the appointment of additional clerical staff, has done much to facilitate the working of the hospital. The contract for the erection of the engine-room, laundry, bakery and butcher's shop, and coal-store was let early in December, and the foundations of these buildings have been commenced. The introduction of the forty-two-hour week for our nursing, artisan, and farm staff, along with the appointment of extra staff for the opening of the new villas, has resulted in our nursing staff being increased from 29 nurses and 16 attendants to 60 and 29 respectively, with the result that a Nurses' Home seems to be the only satisfactory solution for the shortage of staff accommodation.

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