U.—3l.

to the dangers of neglect in difficult cases, and to these facts and to the increase in the number of district nurses to Natives I attribute the improvement. The Committee now inquiring into the maternity services of New Zealand are making a close investigation into the problem of maternity services for the Maoris, and there is every reason to hope that with better education of the Native race in general hygiene in the value of European methods in obstetrics the death-rate will drop still further.

Table IX. — Showing the Maori Mortality by Causes for the Seven Years 1930-36.

PART lII.—PEIVATE MEDICAL AND SUEGICAL HOSPITAL. Ninety-five private medical and surgical hospitals, providing 1,375 beds, are now licensed, a reduction of six since last year. Though the majority of the smaller hospitals are converted houses, and not as convenient as could be desired, they are efficiently equipped for the class of patients for which they are designed. All the larger medical and surgical hospitals are under the control of religious orders, and it appears obvious that ordinary private enterprise cannot cope with modern requirements, and that the future development of all private hospitals depends on either the combined efforts of the medical practitioners of the district or of religious orders or others to whom the financial return is not the main object. Acknowledgment. I wish to express my sincere thanks to the many members of the medical and nursing profession for their helpful and valuable co-operation.

B—H. 31

57

1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. 1934. 1935. 1936. Cause of Death. , No. Kate. No. Rate. No. Bate. No. Kate. No. Kate. No. Kate. No. Kate. I Puerperal sepsis following child- S 2-35 5 2-16 5 1-82 7 2-37 3 1-01 7 2-15 6 1-65 birth Hemorrhage, accidents of labour, 12 5-65 9 3-89 14 5-10 14 4-75 8 2-68 10 3-07 12 3-31 thrombosis, phlegmasia, embolism, and following childbirth not otherwise denned Toismia, albuminaria, and 1 0-36 1 0-34 . . .. 1 0• 30 .. eclampsia Accidents of pregnancy .. 3 1-41 2 0-87 1 0-36 .. .. 4 1-34 3 0-92 .. Total, maternal causes (ex- 20 9-42 16 6-92 21 7-65 22 7-46 15 5-03 21 6-46 18 4-96 eluding septic abortion) Septic abortion 2 0-68 3 1-01 3 0-92 2 0-55