COUNTRY WOMEN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 11, 7 October 1927, Page 5

COUNTRY WOMEN

BUSH NURSE AND HOUSE' KEEPERS

At a recent meeting in Wanganui of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union,' the hon. secretary of the Bush Nurse and Visiting Housekeepers’ Auxiliary read the following report :— The central committee has asked me to report to you on the work that the Bush Nurse and Housekeeper Auxiliary are doing in your midst. Wanganui was. shown as the headquarters of the auxiliary, partly because the Wanganui district has made the largest contribution to the community chest. ' The central commitaee, as set up at the May executive meeting, consists of the president, vice-president, secretary, two other members (optional), and two members of the branch in whose district the nurse or housekeeper are working. These two are to form an advistory committee of two regarding amount of financial assistance required, and also to furnish a report on these officers of the W.D.F.U. Auxiliary, all advisory reports to be entirely confidential. Before touching on the work of the Bush Nurse, I would like to stress the fact to all members that the services of the Bush Nurse are available for all who live in the country. The Central Community have been feytunate in securing the services of Miss Catherine Blackie, one of the finest nurses in New Zealand. As stated in the leaflet, there is a sliding scale/of charges with reference to the weekly fee of £3 10s. The ordinary nursing fee is £4 45., but as our nurse is always liable to go on to a more urgent case (provided her patient is out of danger, and there is someone to look after her), the Ils. reduction is made. Miss Blackie, bush nurse, started duties on June 20, at a salary of £225 per annum, three months notice on either side terminating the engagement. As the work grows, Miss Whishaw, the visiting Housekeeper, will be drafted out to another . district, and the first on the waiting list will automatically take her place at a corresponding salary of £l3O per annum. Since starting work Miss Whishaw has had but a spell of a day or, two before going on to her next engagement. She has worked in Hunterville and Okoia, and is now stationed in Taihape. At present we have the one. Visiting Housekeeper and five emergencies, and have been exceedingly, fortunate in supplying the demand, both as regards efficiency and promptitude. . . . The central committee decided that all housekeepers should wear uniforms provided at their own expense—blue for the visiting housekeeper and pink for the emergency, with the W.D.F.U. epaulette on the shoulder.