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1927. NEW ZEALAND.

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. GIRLING, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 14th Day of July, 1927. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider all matters relating to public health, infectious diseases, contagious diseases, hospitals, and to local authorities having charge of these matters and to such other matters affecting public health as may be referred to it; to have power to call for persons and papers : three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Bell, the Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Girling, Mr. H. Holland, Mr. Horn, Mr. W. Jones, Mr. Parry, Mr. Reid, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Young.)

INDEX.

REPORTS. No. 190. —Petition of Robert Martin Beattie, of Auckland. Praying for inquiry into the administration of mental hospitals. I am directed to report that the Health Committee, after having sat and taken extensive evidence over a period of seven days, including three afternoons and two evenings, and a visit of inspection to the Porirua Mental Hospital, has given most careful consideration to the petition of Dr. R. M. Beattie relative to the administration of mental hospitals in the Dominion, and praying for a Commission of Inquiry in that connection, and is of opinion, after a most searching inquiry, that nothing was brought out to warrant the prayer of the petitioner being acceded to. On the contrary, voluminous and convincing evidence which was tendered to the Committee showed that from the moment Dr. Beattie was relieved of his charge at the Auckland Mental Hospital marked improvements were effected in the care and treatment of the patients ; that the staff was not only strengthened to a point of sufficiency and efficiency, but that the relationship between the members of the staff and the administration were placed on a footing of good will and mutual confidence ; and that extensive improvements were made in the hygienic conditions generally of the buildings. T-he Committee therefore reports as follows 1. That in regard to the petition it has no recommendation to make. 2. That it desires to place on record that it is of opinion— (a) That the letter of the Hon. Minister of Health (Sir Maui Pomare) of the 9th March, 1925, addressed to Dr. Beattie, on the subject of the organization of the mental hospitals in general, and of the Avondale Institution in particular, was fully justified.

No. Subject-matter. Page. 190 Petition of R. M. Beattie .. .. 1 1 Petition of S. Bell-Booth .. .. 2 279 Petition of Mabel J. Cartwright .. 2 11 Petition of J. W. Perrett and others .. 2

No. | Subject-matter. | Page. 12 Petition of Tai P. Toi and others .. 2 Pinal report . . .. .. 3 Special report, re services of Chairman 2 Special report, re services of Clerk .. 3

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(b) That the new progressive and humane policy for the care and treatment of the mentally afflicted as set out by Dr. Sir Truby King, and recommended to the Government on his accession to the office of Inspector-General of Mental Defectives, and subsequently put in hand, has proved entirely in the interests of the patients and their welfare and the better working of the several institutions under the care of the Department. (c) That Dr. T. G. Gray, on taking over the superintendency of the Auckland Mental Hospital in 1925, was faced with a difficult task, and that he deserves the utmost credit for the able manner in which he gave interpretation to the new policy and carried out his duties. The Committee desires to record its high sense of appreciation of the excellent services rendered gratuitously by Mr. E. C. Blomfield as District Inspector, and Mr. John Alexander as Official Visitor at the Auckland Mental Hospital; and adds that a number of the improvements introduced into the New Zealand mentalhospital system making for the comfort and betterment of patients and staff are due to the recommendations made by these gentlemen, who have never spared themselves in investigating to the very utmost anything, however small, which may help any mental sufferer and add to the more efficient working of the system. The Committee also wishes to express its appreciation of the sympathetic attitude displayed by the Government through the present Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, towards the adoption of humane methods in caring for and treating those coming under their care in the mental hospitals of the Dominion, and of the splendid results obtained through the policy in operation. [Minutes of evidence brought up ; not ordered to be printed.]

No. 1. —Petition of Stanley Bell-Booth, of Ponsonby, Auckland. Praying for the right to be examined under the Dentists Registration Act. I am directed to report that the Committee agreed to the following resolution, namely—That, in view of the evidence tendered to the Public Health Committee, and which the petitioner alleges has never previously been adduced, either before the 1926 Royal Commission or otherwise, the petition be referred to the Government for inquiry and such further action as in the circumstances may be deemed fit. 17th October, 1927.

No. 279.—Petition of Mabel J. Cartwright, of Wellington. Praying for reinstatement to her former position in the Health Department. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 16th November, 1927.

No. 11. —Petition of J. W. Perrett and Others, of Kawakawa, Bay of Islands. Praying that school-children be exempted from compulsory medical examination. I am directed to report that, the question being one of policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 16th November, 1927.

No. 12. —Petition of Tai P. Toi and Others, of Kawakawa, Bay of Islands. Praying that school-children be exempted from compulsory medical examination. I am directed to report that, the question being one of policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 16th November, 1927.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that this Committee records its high appreciation of the able, tactful, and impartial manner in which the Chairman, Mr. W. J. Girling, presided over the deliberations of the Public Health Committee during the present session, and desires that this resolution be recorded in the minutes and be reported to the House. J. Horn, 25th November, 1927. Member of the Committee.

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Special Report. I have the honour to report that this Committee records its complete satisfaction with the capable manner in which the Clerk, Mr. E. B. Harman, discharged his duties,- and desires this resolution be recorded in the minutes and be reported to the House. 25th November, 1927.

Final Report. 1 have the honour to report that the Public Hea'th Committee, consisting of ten members, has held fourteen meetings during the session, with an average attendance of eight members. Five petitions were referred to the Committee; to three of these the Committee gave no recommendation, whilst the two remaining ones were recommended for consideration. 25th November, 1927. W. J. Girling, Chairman.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (475 copies), £3 2s. 6d.

By Authority : W. A. Gr, Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 927.

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