H—7

At the initiation of this scheme we were over 300 nurses short, and so far the drift away from the service has continued, so that, in spite of recruitment from overseas, our shortage at the end of the year amounted to 286 nurses. Building Programme The rebuilding of Porirua upon the villa system is progressing somewhat less quickly than is necessary to keep pace with the admissions to that hospital but the new institution near Marton is being erected at the same time and should afford at least some relief to our overcrowding in about eighteen months. Preliminary work at Cherry Farm, which is intended to replace Seacliff, is well forward, and building should soon be under way. At Levin Farm, after considerable alteration to a number of the buildings, we have 94 lads in residence, and accommodation for many more will soon be available. Alterations, Additions, and Improvements Capital expenditure on new buildings and improvements amounted to £288,230 during the year, and the following summary shows the principal items making up the total:— (1) Auckland (£10,972). —Two residences for Medical Officers have been erected, additional buildings for occupational therapy have been completed, and new fire-alarm system has been installed and fire-protection services improved. (2) King seat (£3,985). —Fire-protection services and roading have been improved. Two new staff residences are in course of erection. (3) Raventhorpe (£107,567). —The convalescent depot at Raventhorpe was taken over from the Army Department to house patients evacuated from Wairakei and the Chateau. (4) Porirua (£67,503). —Erection of new laundry has been completed. Fireprotection services have been improved. Two new villas have been erected and two more are in course of construction. (5) Nelson (£5,840). —At Ngawhatu a new sports pavilion and two residences for Medical Officers have been completed, and fire-protection services at Nelson have been improved. (6) Hokitika (£1,250). —A new residence for a Medical Officer has been commenced. (7) Christchurch (£2,683). —Additions have been made to occupational therapy building at Sunnyside, and a residence for a Medical Officer erected at Templeton Farm. (8) Seacliff (£16,155). —An area of land was purchased and progress has been made on roading, water-supply, &c., at Cherry Farm. (9) Lake Alice (£48,276). —Erection of water-tower, has been completed, and progress made on the erection of new villas. Medical Staff During my visit to Britain last year I selected six medical officers for appointment to the Department. They have now assumed duty at the hospitals mentioned : Dr. Lamb, Auckland; Dr. Mulinder, Kingseat; Dr. Stenhouse, Tokanui; Dr. Reid, Porirua ; Dr. Latham, Nelson ; Dr. Saville, Christchurch. These officers have now been with us sufficiently long for me to say that we have been very fortunate in those appointments, and I consider that a valuable addition, has been made to the ranks of those practising psychiatry in New Zealand.

3