H.—3l.

PART lII.—COMBINED EUROPEAN AND MAORI MATERNAL MORTALITY. The separate statistics for Maori and pakeha, whose conditions in obstetrical practice are so entirely different, is necessary for one's own information and for the purpose of comparing our European maternal-mortality rate with that of Europeans and Maoris. For comparison with such countries as the United States of America, which has a large population living under similar conditions to the Maori, I have combined the maternal deaths in both races for which the rate is 3-15 per 1,000 live births. SECTION lII.—PRIVATE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL HOSPITALS. The following table shows the number of licensed medical and surgical hospitals ; mixed medical, surgical, and maternity hospitals ; and licensed chronic medical and convalescent hospitals. Eight of the smaller medical and surgical hospitals have ceased to function. The number of hospitals from 50 to JlB beds remains the same, with an increased bed capacity of 394, and one additional medical and surgical hospital of between 20 and 35 beds has been established. The number of beds in this group of hospitals has increased from 379 to 395. It may be noted with satisfaction that the mixed medical, surgical, and maternity hospitals, both public and private, which it was proved in 1929 were an unsatisfactory feature of our maternity service owing to the excessive amount of puerperal sepsis occurring in them, are now, by the exclusion of all septic surgical cases from those hospitals not having separate maternity staffs, giving a safe and satisfactory service. The operation of the hospital benefits provided by the Social Security Act has given rise to an increase in the medical and convalescent hospitals from 18 to 34, and of the beds available from 132 to 262. These hospitals are largely occupied by elderly chronic cases whose condition demands a greater degree of skilled attention than can be given in the ordinary boardinghouse but do not require the same degree of skilled attention as is necessary for more acute cases. They are, without any doubt, proving a great boon to people suffering from chronic diseases, particularly those due to senility. All these hospitals are regularly inspected by the inspecting officers of the Department, and co-operation between them and the licensee has been most helpful in maintaining a reasonably high standard of efficiency.

Table X.—Private Medical and Surgical Hospitals.

Acknowledgment. I again wish to acknowledge the very helpful co-operation of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society and its very cordial relations with the Department. I have already mentioned their co-operation in instituting an inquiry into the possible influence of the sulphonamide drugs upon the results in the treatment of puerperal sepsis. T have also to express my sincere thanks to the many voluntary associations, too numerous to mention, who had been of the greatest assistance in providing various amenities such as libraries, infants' layettes, and many other comforts contributing to the physical welfare and mental ease of mothers entering maternity hospitals and who are for the time being cut off from their families, for whom some of these societies provide reliable housekeeper service during the mother's stay in hospital. T. L. Paget, Director of Maternal Welfare.

43

Classification by Number of Beds. Hospitals Total Beds. Private Medical and Surgical Hospitals. 50 to 118 beds .. .. .. .. 4 3!)4 20 to 35 beds .. .. .. .. .. 16 395 10 to 19 beds .. .. .. .. .. 31 425 5 to 9 beds .. .. .. .. .. 19 140 Under 5 .. .. .. .. .. 4 13 1,367 Private Mixed Medical, Surgical, and Maternity Hospitals. 35 148 1,515 Medical and Convalescent Hospitals. I 34 262