H.—3l.

(g) Maori Hygiene. The Medical Officers of Health are responsible for the state of health of Maoris living in the health district over which they have charge. They keep in close touch with the Maoris by means of their ordinary staff of Health Inspectors and district nurses, also through medical practitioners who are subsidized or paid a " fee for service " to treat indigent Maoris. Medical Treatment and Care of the Maoris. —The Government accepts responsibility for the extra-institutional care and treatment of Maoris, and for this purpose has a staff of district nurses. The district nurse's work is mainly preventive and educational. She ensures that cases requiring institutional care receive it, she gives minor treatments, and gives occasional bedside care to cases not suitable for institutions. In addition, she supervises the health of school-children, carries out anti-typhoid inoculation campaigns, and acts as a health educator among the race. Close touch is maintained by personal visits and by the use of leaflets in both English and Maori dealing with such subjects as the feeding of infants, prevention of typhoid and tuberculosis, treatment of scabies, &c. Maoris who require institutional treatment are admitted to public hospitals in the ordinary way. District nurses also have authority to engage a doctor at the Department's expense when occasion arises. Maori Councils. —The North Island is divided into twenty-one Maori Council districts and the South Island into four. Each district has a Council consisting of seven members of the Maori race. Every settlement within such a district is entitled to have its Village Committee consisting of not more than five and not less than three members for each settlement. These committees have definite statutory powers and administer their respective by-laws under the jurisdiction of the Maori Council. Staff of Department of Health as at 31st March, 1938. (Exclusive of Institutional Staff.) Medical Officers— (a) Head Office .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 (b) Medical Officers of Health .. .. .. .. 13 (c) School Medical Officers .. .. .. .. .. 15 -N" U.rSGS (a) Head Office Staff .. .. .. .. .. 3 (b) Nurse Inspectors .. .. .. .. .. 9 (c) District nurses .. .. .. .. .. .. 50 (d) School nurses .. . . .. .. .. .. 25 Dental Officers— (а) Head Office .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 (б) Training-schools .. .. .. .. .. 8 (c) District officers.. . . .. .. . . . . 7 Dental Nurses — (a) Fully trained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 (b) In training . . . . .. . . .. .. .. 113 Inspectors — (a) Technical and Architectural Inspectors . . .. . . 3 (b) Health Inspectors .. .. . . . . .. 55 Part-time Medical Officers — (a) Port Health Officers .. .. . . .. .. 5 (b) Medical Officers to Maoris . . . . .. . . 23 Bacteriological Officers — (a) Medical (part-time) .. .. .. .. .. 2 (b) Technicians .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Clerical and Stores — (a) Head Office .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 (b) District Offices . . . . .. .. . . 21 (c) Head Office typistes .. .. .. .. .. 14 (d) District Offices typistes .. .. .. .. .. 11 742 OUTLINE OF THE HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID SYSTEM. The principal law governing the administration of hospitals and charitable aid in New Zealand is contained in the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1926, a consolidation of previous enactments. Under the Act of 1926 the Dominion was divided into forty-seven hospital districts. Provision, however, exists for the voluntary union of contiguous districts, and this provision has been availed of on two occasions. By the Amendment Act of 1932 special provisions were made enabling a Commission of inquiry to be set up to report upon the question of amalgamating hospital districts. Following a recommendation to this effect districts can be amalgamated by Order in Council. This provision has also been availed of on two occasions. The number of hospital districts is at present 42.

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