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660. We now deal with the expenditure under vote : Department of Health Item—Salaries, £132,935. 661. There would be a considerable saving in salaries as a result of our recommendations for the curtailment of services carried out by the Department, and it is unnecessary to recapitulate these savings. Over and above the recommendations already made, our investigations indicate that four officers could be retired and not replaced. Saving on this account for 1932-33, £1,000 ; ultimately rising to £2,000. 662. The house allowances paid to School Medical Officers should cease. Item —Rest-homes for Destitute and Old People, &c., £62. 663. This item is to provide for the payment of interest on land purchased for the purpose of establishing rest-homes under the Rest-homes Act, 1929. We have mentioned this subject in connection with the Mental Hospitals Department, and believe that the establishment of these homes for a special class of patient would ultimately lead to considerable economy. This item should more appropriately be included in the vote of the Mental Hospitals Department. Item —Travelling Allowances and Expenses, £7,400. 664. This item does not cover the whole of the travelling-expenses of the Department for the reason that special provision is-made under separate items for travelling-expenses in connection with dental hygiene, school hygiene, Maori hygiene, &c. The total cost for 1931-32, including maintenance of motor-cars, was in the region of £16,000, and we believe that it should be possible to reduce this cost by at least £2,000 over all. Saving, £2,000. Item —Notification of Infectious Diseases, £1,000. 665. This item provides for payment to medical practitioners for the notification of infectious diseases. The law requires that medical practitioners shall notify the Department of cases of infectious diseases coming under their notice, and, as the duty is mandatory, there is no reason for special payment. We recommend that the practice of paying for reports be discontinued. Saving, £1,000. Item —Masseurs Registration Act: Examination Expenses, &c., £100. 666. This item provides for the general expenses incidental to the administration of the Masseurs Registration Act. The Act prescribes a maximum fee of £2 for examinations and registration, but this does not cover the cost to the Department. There is no reason why there should be any cost to the general taxpayer, and we recommend that the fee be increased to cover the total cost involved. It is estimated that if the fees were increased from £2 to £4 this would cover the whole cost. We also recommend that an annual registration fee of 10s. be imposed. This would be equivalent to a saving of approximately £100 per annum. Item —Medical Practitioners Act: Expenses, &c., £160. 667. Here again the fees collected by the Department do not cover the cost, and we recommend that the law be amended to enable the Department to charge a fee of £1 Is. for an annual practising certificate. This would virtually result in a saving of £1,000 per annum. Item —Plumbers Registration Act: Examination and Expenses, &c., £800. 668. At the present time two examinations are conducted annually. We consider that one should suffice, and recommend accordingly. Approximate saving, £200. Bacteriological Laboratories. Item—Contributions to Hospital Boards' Laboratories, £3,375. 669. We cannot find any justification for special subsidies to Hospital Boards in-respect of services carried out in the bacteriological laboratories of the Boards. The Boards obtain substantial Government subsidies towards the maintenance of the institutions, which should cover all services. We recommend the deletion of this item. Saving, £3,375. Item—Laboratory Expenses, £280. 670. We have already recommended that the laboratories of the Department be handed over to Hospital Board control, but that the manufacture of calf-lymph should still be carried out by one laboratory. The sum of £150 only would then be required to cover laboratory expenses. Saving, £130. 671. The taking-over of laboratory services by Hospital Boards may result in a slight increase in maintenance subsidies, but this may be disregarded for the present.

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