3

IP.—7

Hokitika (£3,061). The erection of a new laundry and boilerhouse was completed during the year, and a contract has been let for the erection of a new villa for fifty female patients. Christchurch (£35,291). A new boilerhouse and stack have been completed at Sunnyside. At Templeton Farm., Villa No. 1 was completed and No. 2is being erected. A contract will be let early in the year for a third villa. The villas will house approximately 150 patients and twelve of the staff. Seacliff (£34,609). Large new administrative buildings, comprising kitchen, laundry, stores, &c., were completed early in the year. This paves the way for extensive alterations in the main building. Waitati (£2,170). Tenders were called for a new villa for fifty female patients, and it is expected that this will be ready for occupation during the year. The Eugenics Board. The Eugenics Board was created tinder the Mental Defectives Amendment Act, 1928, and its duty as defined by the Act is " to promote the welfare of such mentally defective persons as are not classified as ' persons of unsound mind' or 'persons mentally infirm ' " —in other words, the Board deals with persons who are mentally deficient from birth or an early age. The members of the Board, as at present constituted, are : Mrs. Peter Fraser, Wellington, and Miss Jean Begg, Auckland (appointed by the Governor-General) ; Mr. B. L. Dallard, ControllerGeneral of Prisons ; Dr. Ada Paterson, Director, Division of School Hygiene ; Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education ; Dr. John Russell, Psychiatrist to the Board ; and Dr. Theo. G. Gray, Director-General of Mental Hospitals (Chairman). The Board met upon five occasions during the year, and I am glad to report, that much valuable work has been accomplished by the members, who have displayed great interest in the problems relating to mental deficiency. The first important act of the Board was to establish a psychological clinic in Wellington under the direction of my colleague, Dr. John Russell, who has had associated with him Mrs. Dick, as socialservice worker, and Miss Valentine, Supervisor of Special Classes under the Education Department. From the time of its inception in June until the close of the year, 358 cases were referred to the clinic from the following sources : — (1) Department of Education— (a) Children in special classes of day schools .. .. .. 85 (b) Children in the care of the Child Welfare Branch .. . , 26 (c) Children in special schools .. .. .. .. .. .. 108 (2) Department of Health . . .. .. .. .. .. 34 (3) Department of Prisons (referred by Prisons Board or by Controller-General of Prisons) 64 (4) Parents, guardians, and medical practitioners. . .. .. .. 35 (5) The Children's Courts .. .. . . . . .. .. .. 6 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 358 Since the end of the period covered by this report the numbers referred to the clinic have greatly increased. Many of the cases so referred have resided at some distance from Wellington, and it has been recognized that an extension of the work to the other main centres could not be long delayed. On the other hand, it is of cardinal importance that a proper standard of efficiency should be set and maintained from the commencement, and the principle has been adopted that no such extensions would be made until adequate personnel could be obtained and given a short intensive course of training at our central Wellington Clinic. This training is particularly necessary in view of the intention of the Board to undertake, when circumstances permit, a statistical survey of the incidence and setiological factors relating to mental deficiency in New Zealand—a work in which some uniformity of the methods employed would be desirable. We have recently been enabled to start the second of our clinics —in Auckland—under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Todd. After graduation at Otago Dr. Todd entered the New Zealand School Medical Service and later travelled in Great Britain, the Continent of Europe, and America, where she did special research work in neuro-psychiatry and diseases of children. Dr. Todd has had considerable experience in childguidance and similar clinics, and the Department has been fortunate in securing her services for this phase of its work. Rooms have been taken in the Sunday School building in proximity to the Children's Court.