Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1904. NURSES AND MIDWIVES.

THE INFVNTILE MORTALITY QITES.TION. EVRL.Y in the year the Premior circulated v .memorandum, on the Question of infantile mortality, sucKt>stinff. certain inoains of minimising casualties among very young Children. Mr Seddon mado frequent reference to the geflioral issue ol Lifo-savinß and the . amelioration ol tho domestic conditions of certain classes of the community, and as an instalment of h.s plans he has succeeded in passing into law Midwives Act. Tins measure, which is of general interest, relates to ordinary sick-nurses as veil as- those employed in connection with confiwrneaits, and a summary of vts principal provisions may be oi use. The Act provides for the registration of all midwives by lslt January 1906. In future the title to registration and certificate will be •by 'examination in -add it ran to experience. But iii ondor that no haivlship or injustioo 9hould TO Hlfliotod on those women who nave been reputably practising" for yoars it is permitted that women ol good oharacter who have been gomg out as midwives for at least three years may 'be registered on application by. the" date named without examination Of course, the holding of a certificate from any recognised trailing school or from the Obstetric Society of London entitles fl/d---tomatically to registration. • • • The measure provides for the o»---talbl'ishment of one or more. Maternit v Hospitals, when; the pupil •nirsps can be carefully instructed in all duties required for the \velHrn of mother and infant during arid immediately after child-ibirth. loistruction will l>e given -by means of lectures and practical teaching in and outside of the .hospital, mw ■by a period of midwifery work. Kxamlnations of nurses will »:e iv-ia ■periodically, and Mic.;.?.s.ii;il_cui(l:d'U.'.s will be entitled to certi'.icats. •« » • The acts to be performed ly reffistered midwives to 1 mem to keep in conformity with tne law ; u-e defined as follows .— K'.vrv rc-g-isU'ivd midwife not later vhun the Mist January in each .war -r !'■.- fore sh<» com onoes to pra-yoe must notify Ihc Registrar ol her i Mention . and of her plruv o| abode The Hogi'Strar will forward these particulars to the Health OMkvr of the district for the purpose ol record. The lalter oflicer 's thu local supervising authority, over lh4^ mi<l wives of his district, and he has power to temporarily suspend a midwife from practi-ce in order to prevent the spread of infection lrom puerperal fever, or for other reasons. It is his duty to investigate charges against midwives of malpractice, negligonce or misconduct, and he reports his findings to the Minister for Health, Any midwife convicted of an indictable offence must bo at once reported to the Mini'.ster .and the Minister has power to remove from the Registrar the name of any. midwife so convicted, or who is proved to bft guilty, of malpractice or misconduct, i • • • * Machinery is provided for appeals by those women who foci aggrieved at a Health Officer's refusal to register them, or who thiijkw the Minister has not been justified in removing their names from tho register. A reference in such circumstances may be made within three, months at'-ter such refusal or ■ removal to the Magistrate's Court, tho 1 Magistrate being given full power to deal with the case as he deems fit - * * * * A couple of yoars ironi the beginning of 1905 are allowed wherein unregistered midwives may make provision either to secure registration or abandon their calling for some other line of life. But after Ist January, .1907, only registered midwives will be permitted to practice, a breach of the law involving a penalty of £20 or under. Am exception is made, however, as applying to legally qualified medical practitioners, and to women coildd in to render assistance on >an emergency. A certificate of registration obtained by false pretences or misrepresentation renders the applicant lialble to twelve months' imprisonment. \ Finally, the Governor is empowered to appoint examiners of pupil •nurs»B and matrons of. maternity hospitals, and to make the necessary reflations for exam>wi&tions and the conduct of maternity hospitals, the traiaing of pupil nurses, tho scale of fees to be paid by patients, and so on. All fees will be paid Into the public account. The Act also provides that -the tiogi-s---trar may cause any existing public or privatfl hospital to be registered as .a State maternity hospital if provision is made for the instruction of pupil nurses, aacl for other necessary requirements.

UVfiss Hoult'< post mistress at Wai-iti, who is leaving the district, will be entertained at a complimentary farewell social at the Wai-iti schoolroom on Wednesday evening, 14th inst. The residents of Wai-iti and district desire, to show their appreciation of Miss Hoult's good qualities as public servant, she having served the district well for the last seven years as post mistress and telephonist, and by her pleasant manner she has made herself extremely popular. On Friday next at. 1.30 p.m.. at the residence, Russell-street, Mr W. Lock will sell on account of D Bruce his piano and furniture and effects. As Mr Bruce is leaving Nelson in the course oi a few days the sale will be unreservecL