H.—3l

30

Dunedin. —There are sixteen beds in this institution, with a daily average of 6-4 patients. In the district sixty-one patients were attended outside. Staff : Matron, Sub-Matron, and one sister ; six pupils in training. In future the number of the latter will be reduced in accordance with an agreement made with the Medical School whereby the training of midwives is to be discontinued in order that medical students may have improved facilities for gaining experience in this branch. Maternity-nurse training will still be carried on in the institution. As there appear to be rather more midwifery training-schools (for nurses) than necessary or desirable, this change should prove beneficial in more ways than one. Three pupil-midwives qualified and eight pupil maternity nurses. The pupil-nurses' hours are much the same as in the other St. Helens Hospitals, leave being arranged as work permits throughout the period of training. Miss M. J. Gow, after twenty-two years' service as Sub-Matron, was obliged to retire on superannuation on account of ill health in November, and Miss Sparkes was appointed to succeed her. Miss Oppenheim is still Matron. Invercargill.—ln this hospital of twelve beds the daily average is 8-5. The work is increasing, and the homelike atmosphere of the place, set in its pleasant garden, is greatly appreciated by the patients. Miss Arnold is assisted by a Sub-Matron, Miss Paterson, recently promoted from the staff of St. Helens, Auckland, and a doubly qualified sister. There are seven pupils in training, but as soon as sufficient accommodation is provided another trainee will be added to the number in order that it may be possible to give regular days off duty. There have been no cases of illness among staff or pupils during the year. Four pupil-midwives qualified and eight pupil maternity nurses. Wanganui.—With eleven beds this hospital has a daily average of seven patients, while twelve were attended on the district during the year. This latter number will probably be increased when the additional accommodation is provided at the Nurses' Home, the present staff being too small to cope with more. An ante-natal clinic is also to be erected for the ever-increasing number of patients who seek advice and treatment. Miss Boyce, late Sub-Matron of St. Helens, Wellington, succeeded Miss Bagley as Matron when the latter was promoted to Wellington in September. Miss Joyce, who was also on the staff at Wellington, was transferred to Wanganui as Sub-Matron about the same time, each of the two Matrons concerned thus having the benefit of an assistant with whom she had already been closely associated in her work. There are six pupils in training, but with adequate accommodation provided another will be added to provide for shorter hours on duty than can be arranged at the present time. Seven pupilmidwives qualified and four pupil maternity nurses. With regard to days off duty, the practice is to grant these when the number of indoor patients is under six. One pupil only was ill during the year, being off duty for several days with an attack of tonsillitis. Gisborne. —There are fourteen beds ; daily average, nine patients. Miss Clark and Miss E. Knight still hold the positions of Matron and Sub-Matron respectively, and are especially successful in dealing with Maori patients, who constitute a large proportion of their cases. With them is associated a doubly qualified sister, and there are six pupils in training. Eight pupil-midwives qualified and two pupil maternity nurses. With the alterations made when an ante-natal clinic was established the building has been greatly improved and is now much more convenient for working. Taking the St. Helens Hospitals as a whole, the past year has been one of progress and increased usefulness. District Nurses to Maoris. This body of women continues to do splendid work, mainly in the backblocks of the country. They number twenty-three, and the majority of them are doubly, qualified, so that they are able to cope with any emergency. The usual practice is for the Department to pay their salaries, though in some instances the Hospital Boards are responsible. Their accommodation and means of transport are, as a rule, the concern of the Hospital Board of the district, and efforts are being made to bring more uniformity into the scheme. J. Bicknell, Director, Division of Nursing. PART VI.—MAORI HYGIENE. I have the honour to submit a brief annual report of the work done by the Division of Maori Hygiene for the year ended the 31st March, 1929. General Health. The general health of the Native people continues of show steady improvement, and, on the whole, even better than previous years. The improved sanitary and housing conditions, individualization of their lands (thus enabling them to become sej)arated from the previously overcrowded state), becoming more amenable to advice and treatment are factors contributing to the very satisfactory position for the year just closed. As mentioned in my previous report, the younger and more enlightened Natives have assumed control of affairs and have shown that what was acceptable to their elders in the past is not sufficient for the present, and this is reflected throughout the villages by the general advancement of sanitary improvements and living-conditions generally.