fl.— 7

4

Templeton Farm Colony. Another important accomplishment on the part of the Board has been the establishment of a farm colony at Templeton, near Ghriatchurch, for children who, while unlikely to profit from the courses provided in the special schools, are yet capable of being trained to some degree in manual work. In a recent report to the Government I pointed out that the problem of training the feeble-minded was very different from that involved in the care and treatment of persons suffering from mental disorder, and I advocated the provision of separate institutions for the former class apart from the existing mental hospitals. The establishment of Templeton Farm marks a distinct advance in this direction. Hitherto the care of mentally defective children has been divided between the Department of Mental Hospitals and the Department of Education, and the decision as to which should assume guardianship has been made upon the rather negative point as to whether or not the child has been " bad enough for the mental hospital." The result has been that the special residential schools under the Education Department have gradually accumulated cases of a custodial grade to the exclusion of those likely to benefit by the educational facilities provided, while many children, who could be trained to be at least partly selfsupporting, have been committed to the mental hospitals, where little or no systematic scheme of training has been possible. In Templeton Farm we have the means of dealing adequately with those children, and so affording relief to both Departments concerned. During the year the clinic visited the Education Department's special residential schools at Richmond and Otekaike, and as the result of examinations made a number of children were transferred to Templeton, thus freeing much-needed accommodation at these schools for educable children. A few higher-grade boys and girls were also removed to Templeton from the mental hospitals. Applications on the part of parents to have their children admitted to Templeton have been in excess of the accommodation yet available, but good progress is being made with the building programme. Two villas, each designed to house forty-eight children and four officers, have been occupied during the year, and a third one will be completed shortly. There are forty-nine boys and twenty-four girls in residence, and a number of cases are under consideration. The members of the Board paid two visits to Templeton during the year. The establishment of this farm colony has aroused much interest amongst social workers and the public generally, and I have had many reports from independent visitors, who have without exception commented favourably upon the devotion and enthusiasm of the staff and the general brightness and happiness of the children—a state of matters which reflects great credit upon Miss Brand and the other institution officers. Medico-psychological Association. Although the matter is not one which comes strictly within the scope of this report, 1 feel that some reference may fairly be made to the recent formation of the New Zealand Medico-psychological Association. Many of those who have been engaged in institutional work for some years have felt that psychiatry in this country has occupied a rather isolated position in relation to general medical practice, and we believed that a closer contact with the practising members of the profession would provide more opportunity for the exchange of views, and stimulate a larger mutual interest in the more scientific aspect of our specialty. With this aim the New Zealand Medico-psychological Association has been formed, with an initial roll of thirty-six members. At the first annual meeting held in Christchurch in February, Dr. Marshall Macdonald, of Dunedin, the president, delivered an interesting presidential address upon the teaching of psychiatry, and the following papers were read : — (1) Psychosis and Physique : Dr. F. R. Martin, of Seacliff. (2) The Treatment of G-eneral Paralysis : Dr. Malcolm Brown, of Sunnyside. (3) Two Cases of Schilder's Disease : Dr. R. H. Baxter, Christchurch. (4) Occupational Therapy : Dr. J. C. D. Macky, Porirua. Obituary. As this report was nearing completion, news came of the disastrous railway crossing accident at Sockburn which resulted in the deaths of Matron Brand, Miss Cameron, Miss Benfell, and Miss Palmer, institution officers at Templeton, and Mr. Ralp~h Smith, chauffeur at Sunnyside. Miss Isabella Duncan Brand, R.R.C., came to us in 1923, with a wide experience in several branches of her profession and a notable record of war service for which she had been decorated. Commencing as sister-in-charge of Braemar Lodge, Nelson, Miss Brand held in succession several of the' most important nursing positions in our Department and acquitted herself with distinction, and when the new farm colony was established at Templeton, Miss Brand was obviously the one to whom the direction of this new venture had to be entrusted. How well she carried out her trust, I have already recorded. Plucky and undaunted even in the face of grave difficulties, possessed of the highest ideals of her noble calling, and deeply imbued with the spirit of loyalty and devotion to duty, Matron Brand will be sadly missed at Templeton. Miss Cameron, Miss Benfell, Miss Palmer, and Mr. Smith were all officers of short service, but were keen, kindly, and popular young people of a type the country can ill-afford to lose, and our deepest sympathy is extended to all their relatives. Appreciation. I desire, in conclusion, to acknowledge my indebtedness to my colleague, Dr. John Russell, Deputy Director-General, the Medical Superintendents, and the Assistant Medical Officers for their unfailing loyalty and help at all times. To Mr. Holder and the staff at the Head Office my thanks are due for good work done during the year. I have, &c., Theo. G. Gray.