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Table A. Accommodation available.

Table B. Number of Patients and Boarders.

In addition to the 935 patients already surplus to our accommodation, we may anticipate an increase for the current year of about 250, so that there would normally be an excesS of 1,185 patients at the end of next year. To meet this, we have twelve villas being built at the various hospitals with a total accommodation for 600 men and women, so that the shortage will be reduced to 585 beds —a more favourable position than has existed for some years. Survey of the requirements at each Hospital. Auckland. —In 1925, following upon much public uneasiness in regard to conditions at Auckland, the Government of the day undertook to remove this institution within ten years, and to accommodate the patients in a new hospital to be erected near Papakura. The present position is that the new institution —Kingseat —has already 441 patients, whilst at Auckland there are 1,294, or 132 more than in 1927, when the land at Kingseat was acquired. I am quite definitely not in favour of vacating the Auckland institution, even if such a course were feasible. Since 1927, conditions at the institution have been greatly improved, and there is not now any public demand for its removal, nor, in my opinion, any justification for such a step. The facilities at Auckland for the treatment of recent and recoverable cases are excellent. Kingseat (near Papakura).—This property was acquired in 1927, since when eight villas and farm buildings have been erected. Towards the end of last year, tenders were let for four additional villas, and by December next the population of Kingseat will be about 640 patients. The main store is in the course of erection, and we hope to begin the laundry, the hospital admission ward, and administration block at an early date. I estimate that two villas a year in addition to the gradual erection of administrative units and officers' houses will meet the needs of the Auckland Province for some years. Tokanui.—Tokanui is, I think, a very badly planned institution so far as the main building is concerned, but there are three good female villas and one male, plus two in course of erection. The site of the main building was badly chosen, and there is little room for expansion in its neighbourhood, but I think that we should erect a hospital admission block and a number of villas at some distance from the present institution and dedicate them to recent and recoverable cases. The time is approaching when a good deal of reconstruction must take place at Tokanui to provide better laundry, entertainment, and administrative facilities. Overcrowding is not a serious problem at Tokanui,

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I j Mental Hospital. Male. j Female. Total. • Deficiency, j Surplus. : I j Auckland .. .. .. 628 559 1,187 107 Kingseat .. .. .. 248 200 448 .. 7 Tokanui .. .. .. 285 279 564 16 Porirua .. .. .. 710 574 1,284 319 Christclmrch .. .. 604 492 1,096 266 Nelson .. .. .. 466 199 665 25 Hokitika .. .. .. 234 194 428 .. 17 Seacliff .. .. .. 543 461 1,004 226 Totals .. .. 3,718 | 2,958 6,676 959 24 Net deficiency—935.

Resident. Mental Hospital. Total. On Register. Probation Male. Female. Auckland .. .. 704 590 1,294 1,414 120 Kingseat .. .. 242 199 441 452 11 Tokanui .. .. .. 313 267 580 630 50 Porirua .. .. .. 896 707 1,603 1,700 97 Christcliurch .. .. 703 659 1,362 1,502 140 Nelson .. .. .. 484 206 690 720 30 Hokitika .. .. 225 186 411 419 8 Seacliff .. .. .. 711 519 1,230 1,273 43 Totals .. .. 4,278 3,333 7,611 8,110 499