H.—3la,

Summary and Recommendations. It will be evident from the foregoing that maternity services in the Wairoa district are on an unsatisfactory basis, and various suggestions have been made for improving the situation :— (1) A maternity annexe under the control of the Hospital Board. The district nurses consider that greater use would be made of hospital facilities were the annexe available. The services of the Wairoa district midwife would no longer be necessary, and more adequate ante-natal care would be available for poorer patients. (2) A temporary hospital maintained by the Public Works Department at one of the camps, possibly Kopuawhara. While this would undoubtedly be of great assistance to public-works employees, it would contribute but little to the solution of the Maori problem. (3) Enlargement of the existing private hospital, and the payment of an adequate subsidy by the Board. Of these suggestions the Committee recommends the erection of a maternity annexe at the public hospital and better transport facilities from the camps. 21. HAWKE'S BAY HOSPITAL BOARD DISTRICT. The Hospital Board district of Hawke's Bay occupies virtually the same area as the county of that name. The coast, for a distance of roughly twenty miles both north and south of Cape Kidnappers, forms the eastern boundary of this district. The northern boundary, some forty miles in length, runs in a north-westerly direction to a point some five miles north of the Settlement of Tarawera ; the southern is formed by a line some fifty miles long running inland almost due west from the coast. Napier, a town of 15,302 inhabitants, is an important shipping centre, while Hastings, with 12,750 inhabitants, is the main commercial centre of the district. During the intercensal period 1926-36 Napier showed a decrease of population of 0-63 per cent, and Hastings an increase of 25-64 per cent., this discrepancy being accounted for by the much slower recovery of Napier after the earthquake in 1931 and the increased importance of Hastings as a commercial and business centre. A popular residential and educational centre is situated at Havelock North (1,050 inhabitants, increase 9-05 per cent.). The rural population of the district is 16,500, and shows an increase of 13-09 per cent, in the intercensal period. The principal industries are sheep and dairy farming and fruitgrowing ; the manufacture of wine and cider is being developed on the lower slopes of the Te Mata Range, and at Napier the fishing industry has long been a flourishing concern. The main centres are well served by the railway, and roads are satisfactory. The district suffered most severely in the earthquake of 1931, and this fact has brought about extensive activity in building, old structures which sustained extensive damage having been largely replaced by buildings of modern and up-to-date design. Transport does not appear to be a major difficulty in Hawke's Bay, as excessive poverty is comparatively rare and cars readily obtainable. Shortage of domestic help, on the contrary, is an acute problem throughout the district. The Napier Townswomen's Guild endeavours to provide assistance in the town similar to that given by the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union in the country, but the efforts of both organizations are greatly hampered by lack of personnel. Napier. Public-hospital Facilities.—There is no maternity annexe at the public hospital, all Hospital Board cases being confined in the McHardy Home, an institution owned by the Board, but licensed as a private hospital. The Board guarantees the matron eight cases a month, at the rate of £6 6s. for two weeks, and pays extra for any Board cases over and above this number. The building is rent-free, the Board paying the rates and maintaining the outside of the building. Sedatives are used according to medical direction. Private-hospital Facilities.—ln addition to private accommodation available at the McHardy Home at a fee of £4 4s. to £5 ss. per week, facilities are aSorded by three private hospitals, providing a total of twenty-five beds, and charging £9 10s. for two weeks. The patients are mostly attended by doctors. Intermediate Facilities. —There are no hospitals of the intermediate type. Hastings. Public-hospital Facilities.—The Soldiers' Memorial Hospital maternity annexe contains fourteen beds, and is a training school for six maternity nurses. It is run on the community system, and gives special facilities for post-natal observation, three beds being available for this purpose. A considerable number of cases are attended by the matron, the medical officer of the annexe being available in case of necessity. Nembutal and chloral, with chloroform at the end of labour, are the means employed for pain-relief.

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