H.—7

4

old conventions as such, with no thought of their origin and value to Uiie community, or thenadaptation and moulding to necessary changes, it is such straining for expression in the midst of revolt which gives and the futurist, essaying to replace the masterpieces of art; which impels the son of the composer of the " Blue Danube " to startle our sense ot harmony with " Don Quixote"; which accounts tor women joining recklessly in dances the meaning and source of which could hardly be referred to in a smoking-room; which draws inspiration for its literary romances from a pathological text-book. lor newness at any cost has had its cycles, and is recorded thus by one whose insight into human nature remains unequalled : — A Wlioro doth the world thrust fortli a (.So be it now, there's no respect how vile) That is not quickly buzzed into his cars? „„, Then all too late comes counsel to be heard, Where will doth mutiny with wit's regard — Direot uot him wiiose way himself will choose, i But we are not dealing with circumstances under which this advice was given. Much may be done __in _the political sphere, but that is beyond my bnei. There are, however, social questions on which there cannot be political differences, m which there is an obligation on those in and having the power to direct in the way oi physical, mental, and moral safety. The rejections from the Expeditionary Force, coupled with the reports on the indifferent physical condition of numbers of school-children, indicate as clearly as anything can that the, underlying cause of most of the unfitness to stand hardships exists before school age. If the natural and proper needs of life are supplied before and after birth, the average infant, child, and adult will be so much the better able to resist the effect of predisposing and the attack of the direct causes of disease, whether physical or mental or moral, and the proportion of the robust will rise to demonstrate that people are not abusing the advantages of this highly favoured country. lam glad that the Government Contemplates taking up systematically this question ol social service, and, feeling strongly as I do that not alone the physical but the future mental and moral health of the community is largely dependent on the care of the young organism, it is fortunate we are in a position to get the benefit ol the experience of Dr. Truby King, who has a world-wide reputation in this branch, oi medical science. Our relatively small population can be instructed in domestic science, usmg the term m its widest application, with a completeness impossible in larger communities. Further, with the knowledge that undue excitation of the infant is harmful, it will also be realized that some decided check should be placed on the precocious excitement of older children —on the vivid presentation of vice and the glamour of lawlessness, in spite of the, ultimate triumph of vntue, depicted in the class of moving picture which by its supply has created its own demand, and is ethically destructive, i thanked you, sir, privately, and 1 do so now publicly, for having taken up this matter. The therapeutic value of the. farms, even if we had to work them at a loss, makes them a necessity, but year by year the farming operations, including kitchen-gardening and fruit-growing, have been so successful that their primary object tends to be overlooked- -that of diffusing a sentiment of privacy and freedom while providing normal healthy occupation in the open air. The expenditure for the year on all the farms amounted to £24,171, and the receipts £36,878, leaving a profit oi £12,707. The following is a statement of the receipts : —

In Table XXi the bulk ol the farm expenditure is divided among "salaries, " iarm, and "miscellaneous," ol produce sold lor cash account 3s. id. of "receipts oi ail kinds " ; but the value oi produce of our own growing consumed, approximately £5 per head, is not shown m Table XXi, and in assessing lull actual value ol lood consumed this sum should be added to the item oi " provisions." There are also .some minor sources contributmg to the credits ; but the chief receipts are collected lor the maintenance oi patients. These have been highly satisiaotory. The total amount was £69,43; i 12s. lUd., averaging per head £15 ss. Sd., an increase of £3 lis. 3£d. over the previous year. The collection oi maintenance was reorganized in 1910, removed to the Head Uifiee, and placed under Mr. Weils as iteoeiver. The first year showed an improvement, and then only amounted to £7 7s. 7Jd. per head. The total cost oi collection is about 1-4 per cent. The improved credits, placed against the necessaiily increased expenditure in spite ol careful buying, have kept the cost per patient within reasonable limits. Thus, lor the year ended the 31st -December, 1919, the gross cost per head oi £63 2s. 9|d. (no allowance made lor interest on buildings, &c, by way of rent) was reduced to £42 Bs. 5d., an increase ol only £2 9s. over the previous year. total expenditure for the year ending 31st December, as shown in Table XX, was, in round figures, £286,847 ; the credits amounted to £94,1011, ieavmg a net expenditure of £192,717. The synchronous rise oi credits with expenditure is being mamtamed. At the balance at the end oi the financial year tfie corresponding figures were £303,705, 1112,951, and £190,804, the item oi receipts for maintenance having risen to £86,887.

Mental Hospital. Produce soid. Value of Produce consumed. Total. Au.ukia.iid Ohrietcimreh .. BeaeJsH Hokitika .Nelson I'onrua Tokanui £ s. d. 1,314 14 2 4,683 19 4 a,750 13 4 to 368 2 5 2,379 10 10 1,811 12 3 & s. d. 3,180 7 7 4,880 15 1 G,2U3 18 1 J2U 12 1 1,609 7 11 3,416 2 1 2,577 15 7 £ s. d. 4,500 1 9 9,534 14 5 9,960 11 5 720 12 1 1,977 10 4 5,795 12 11 4,389 7 10 Totals 14,264 12 4 ZZ,o»J 18 5 36,878 lU 9