H.—3lA.

The district comprises the counties of Kiwitea, Pohangina, Oroua, Manawatu, Kairanga, and Horowhenua. The total rural population of the district is 25,265. Its distribution and the percentage increase in the various counties during the 1926-36 intercensal period are shown in the following table :

Particulars of town population are shown in the following table

Palmerston North. Public-hospital Facilities. —An up-to-date maternity annexe of eleven beds is attached to the general hospital, and is under the control of the Medical Superintendent and an honorary consulting obstetrician. The annexe caters for patients _ over a wide area, serving, as it does, the whole of the district north of Shannon. Patients residing south of this locality usually go to the Otaki Hospital. Private-hospital Facilities. —Private facilities consist of four hospitals, providing in all a total of twenty-five beds. Fees are from £4 10s. to £5 ss. per week. Nursing stafis and equipment appear adequate. Intermediate Facilities. —There are no hospitals of the intermediate type in Palmerston North. Feilding. Public-hospital Facilities.—There is no public maternity hospital in Feilding, patients who are unable to pay private fees going to Palmerston North annexe. Private-hospital Facilities.--Two hospitals in the town, each having four beds and charging £4 10s. to £5 ss. respectively per week, provide the private facilities. Of these one is an up-to-date hospital, which, on account of its attractiveness, tends to be overcrowded; the other, while less well equipped, is run with reasonable efficiency. The two together, however, would not appear adequate to the needs of the town and surrounding district. Foxton. Apart from three midwives who attend patients at their own or the patients' homes, facilities are totally lacking in Foxton. Many cases go to Palmerston North for confinement. Levin. Public-hospital Facilities.—There is no public maternity hospital in Levin, patients unable to pay private-hospital fees going to Otaki. Private-hospital Facilities. —A mixed private hospital with three maternity beds, charging £11 Us. for two weeks, and a home licensed for two beds, provide adequate accommodation for private patients.

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! _ , Increase County. | Population. 1926-36. Per Cent. Kiwitea 2,442 2-52 Pohangina .. .. •• •• •• 1,350 2-97 Oroua 3,872 5-42 Manawatu .. • ■ • • • • • • 4 Kairanga 5.358 18-95 Horowhenua .. .. •• •• 7 > 278 7 ' 4b

„ , ,. Increase Town. Population. 1926-36. Per Cent. Palmerston North .. •• •• •• 22,202 *^'51 Feilding 4,550 6-73 Foxton 1,605 8-81* Levin 2,658 8-22 Otaki 1.744 12-52 * Decrease.