NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 8

NEWS AND NOTES.

An interesting aspect of the question regarding the registration of nurses came hetore. ■ .Parliament yesterday. .Marion hill petitioned Parliament in regard to her disqualification as a nurse. When the petition was reported from Committee Mr. Mnssey explained that the petitioner had Seen nursing maternity cases in the back-blocks . 01 the Auckland district for .25 years, and the settlers had more 'confidence in her than in any doctors, had not known of tho passing of tho Act necessitating registration until the last moment,' and had then tailed to qualify. There was, however, no doubt as to her capacity; indeed »ho was looked upon as one of the best nurses in + .he- Dominion, though, theoretically for examination purposes, her .knowledge might bo deficient. The settlers were very anxious that the petitioner's services should.be retained. Mi. Massey's remarks were supported iby Mr. Barber, who referral to i city case in which a woman holding certificates from six doctors as to competency had been prohibited by the Act from practising. _ Mr. Gray would like to see provisions in .'i tho Act whereby many of the old ladies, who had been practising for years could pass a less stringent examination as regards: technical matters. Mr. Tanner quoted the. case of a Canterbury nurse who after practising very capably for years had been compelled by the Act to cease. Several other members spoke to the same effect, and the [''Minister for Health in reply said ho woulil-go into the case of the petitioner, and perhaps she would be able to pass a simplified examination later on. He said that when the Act was passed a year was given to enable '/'nurses of four years or more experience passing examination. Tho petition jvas laid on the table with a recommendation for favourable consideration.

Mr. Baumc (Auckland,' East) called the attention of the Minister'tor Justice to a telegram in the Press /from Auckland in which it was stated that at a'coroner's inquest the coroner had declared no expenses were allowed witnessed at such inquiries. Mr. Baumc ashed the/Minister if provision did not already'exist/'for tlio payment of witnesses would' ho ihs'cr't a clause to clo so in the -proposed amendment to the Coroners Act. The Minister for Justice said lie felt that tho Coroner had boon misreportcd. Provision already existed for the payment of witnesses iii cases'like'that cited in the telegram. '