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CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON BUILDINGS Capital expenditure on new works during the year amounted to £171,442. The following is a summary of the amount spent at each hospital during the year, only the major works being named : Auckland : £12,524. A new boiler-house is under construction. Kingseat: £2,009. Lake Alice : £93,006. Villas and staff homes have been completed. Tokanui: £2,024. Levin Farm : £7,754. A new laundry is under construction. Porirua : £23,715. A villa, the laundry, and occupational therapy block have been completed. Nelson: £3,774. Seaview : £2,444. Sunnyside : £6,922. Seacliff: £16,463. Heating of nurses' home ; preparatory work at Cherry Farm. EQUIPMENT, FURNISHING, ACCOMMODATION All the hospitals have continued to improve their clinical facilities in the wards. This is of great benefit to the patients and the staff. The furnishings in all the hospitals show a marked improvement, although there is still a great deal to be done. For those patients whose stay is prolonged, a much more comfortable and homelike appearance is being achieved. Serious overcrowding exists in all the hospitals, and unless faster progress with our building programme is achieved, the already serious position will become much' worse. Some of the day-room space for our patients is used for sleeping accommodation, and this results in less comfort for them. APPRECIATION The District Inspector, Official Visitors, and clergy have all taken a great interest in the patients of the hospitals. Their work is of inestimable value to both the patients and the staff. The officers of the Division would like to express their grateful thanks for this help. Our hospitals have numerous benefactors, who do a wonderful amount of good work for our patients, making contributions of money and presents, bringing concert parties and sports teams to our hospitals, extending hospitality in inviting our patients back to visit them, and showing many other kindnesses too numerous to mention. To these officers who have retired during the year the Division expresses its appreciation of the good work they have done over the years. We all wish them good health and many happy years of retirement. The Director thanks the whole staff for their loyal co-operation, help, and good work daring the year. R. G. T. Lewis, Director, Division of Mental Hygiene.

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