NURSING GUILD WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 18

NURSING GUILD WORK

*THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLEv

DISQUIETING FACTS

The election of officers at the annual meeting yesterdayl evening of the District Nursing Guild of St. John resulted as follows: —Patroness: Her Excellency, Viscountess Galway; president, Mrs. E.M. Osborn; hon. life vicepresidents, Miss E. M. Rowley, Mrs. W. Young; vice-presidents, Mrs. G. Barltrop, Mrs. E. M. Balcombe Brown; committee, Mesdames R. Pearson, J. A. Doctor, E. H. M. Luke,- J. W. Jack,. N. Perry, T. G. Morgan, Miss E. Young, and a representative of the Khandallah Sick Poor Guild; advisory medical officers Dr. W. Young, Dr. Agnes Bennett; hon. secretary, Miss" L. Young; hon. treasurer, Mrs. E. M. Osborn; hon. medical staff, Dr. W. Young, Dr. Lan Stewart, Sir James Elliott, Dr. E. Button Dr. D. Whyte, Dr. W. Patterson, Dr.'B. Wright, Dr. T. Usher, Dr. R. Martin Dr. E. H. M. Luke, Dr. J. Zohrab, Dr. J. Twhigg, Dr. Gordon Kemp, Dr. W. Bull, Dr. Montgomery Spencer, trustees, Sir, G. A. Troup, Messrs. W. Dubois Ferguson (hon. treasurer), T. G. Morgan, Mrs. E. Balcombe Brown, Mrs. E. M. Osborn; hon. accountants, Messrs. Rowley, Gill, Hbbbs, and. Glen; hon, solicitors, Messrs. Young, Courtney, Bennett, and Virtue; hoi*, auditors, Messrs- Pattrick, Feist, and Jack.

LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED. James Elliott, a member* qf the Commandery in New Zealand, paid high tribute to the work of the guild, saying that the guild was helping to lessen the almost crushing, burden, on ratepayers and taxpayers of keeping up large hospitals. In a country with a population of a million and a half it was- rather disquieting, he said, to find such a large number of hospitals. The fact that so much hospital treatment was required and that there was so much need for district nursing made one wonder if New Zealand was doing all it could in the matter of public health. In Great Britain, Germany, and other countries -there had been a great improvement^ in the physique and health of the people in the last few years.

"I suppose any person who reflects wonders if the health of the people is as good now as it was 10 or 20 years ago, or in the days ~ of the pioneers," said Sir James. "I know that the district nurses work largely in the more closely-settled parts of Wellington/and I know that the standard of living of many of the. people in the congested parts 'of the city leaves much to be desired, so far as domestic hygiene and recreation and diet are concerned."

LARGE RENT FOR ONE ROOM.

He went on to say that it was a mat: ter for concern that so many married v people were living in one musty room for which they paid a large rent. Such living conditions must have some influence in increasing the work of the nursing guild and also might engender a state of mind which, made people, more inclined to spend ■ their- money on transient amusements than on domestic comforts. - •