A—3

Tlie development of the deep well has been delayed until tests have been completed to determine the potability of the water struck at 175 ft. If the tests prove that the water is pure for .drinking, investigations will be made to discover whether it is practical to sink wells in the vicinity of all villages. Under a local Ordinance, every dwellinghouse must have a pit privy, and on account of the porous nature of the coral terrain, these privies are quite satisfactory. The amounts expended on health services during the last five years are as follows :

All medical and dental treatment, including hospitalization, is provided free of charge to the inhabitants. The money for this expenditure is provided out of subsidies from the New Zealand Government. There is one general or public hospital, situated near Alofi, and maintained by the Administration. This hospital contains sixteen beds, but averages many more patients during periods of epidemic or serious illness. Attached to the hospital is an x-ray unit, a dispensary, an out-patients' clinic, and a dental clinic. All outer villages are visited each week by the Medical Officer, and to assist him in this work a mobile clinic is now being constructed. School, shipping, and public health inspections are carried out, and there is a child welfare clinic held weekly in each village. The out-patients' dispensary at the hospital is open each morning, and special calls are made to villages as required. The staff of the Medical Department at 31st March, 1950, consisted of a European Matron, a European Nursing Sister, a Tongan Assistant Medical Practitioner, and two Niuean Dental Officers. In addition, there were three Niuean Dispenser-Orderlies, one Niuean Dental Assistant, and six Niuean Nurses, all of whom are untrained. From the beginning of September, 1949, Niue has been without the services of a European Medical Officer and his duties have been carried out by the Assistant Medical Practitioner since that time. The Medical Department has no facilities for training medical or dental staff; however, two Niueans are at present being trained as Assistant Medical Practitioners; in addition, another is being trained as a Dispenser and one other as a Sanitary Inspector and Mosquito Control Officer. These Niueans are receiving their training at the Central Medical School, Suva. Three Niuean girls are being trained as Nurses at the Government Hospital, Apia. Vital Statistics Births for the calendar ye ay 1949 .. .. .. 148 Deaths for the calendar year 1949 .. .. .. 95 Births per 1,000 of population .. .. .. .. 33-84 Deaths per 1,000 of population .. .. .. .. '2l-71 The number of deaths under one year of age for the calendar year 1949 was 18, the infant-mortality rate per 1,000 live births being 121-62;

35

— 1945-46. 1946-47. 1947-48. 1948-49. 1949-50. Amount expended Population Amount per head of population £5,305 4,271 £1 4s. 9d. £8,211 4,328 £1 17s. lid. 1 £7,293 4,318 £1 13s. 9d. £8,019 4,333 £1 17s. 0d. £7,529 4,471 £1 13s. 8d.