DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

Evening Star, Issue 14531, 6 December 1910, Page 5

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY

The monthly meeting of tho Dunedin Presbytery in First Church Hall this morning was presided over by the Moderator (R«v. J. Lymbum), and attended by about thirty members. It was resolved to convey to Dr NicolBon the Presbytery's sincere sympathy with him in his bereavement over tho death of a daughter. Reports of presbytenal visits to Kaikorai and Mornington Churches were read and adopted. The burden of tho reports was a testimony as to the —Hospital Nurses.— The Rev. J. Chisholm moved—" Whereas the nursing of sick and wounded in public hospitals is a distinctly Christian service, and requires the constant exercise of the highest qualities of womanhood in the form of sympathy, tact, patience, and gentleness, anp thereby becomes peculiarly taxing both on mind and body, and needs to be carried on amidst such conditions as are most favorable to the health and comfort and general efficiency of the nurses; and whereas it appears from the ovidence given at tho Tecent inquiry into tho 6tate of the Dunedin Hospital that there is worn for improvement in tho conditions Tinder which nursing is carried on there, this Presbytery desire to express their hearty thanks to all those in their endeavor to bring the working of the hospital within the sphere of public review, and to protect from official tyranny thoso who are laudably bent not only on making the institution as efficient as possible, but also <m seeing that the desired efficiency is not Jcured bv undue pressure on the nursing staff."— Mr Chisholm spoke in support of his motion with characteristic tact and kindliness. The Rev. A. W. Kinmont moved as an amendment that the Presbytery pass on to the next business. Tho subject was a delicate one, and it might bo better not to press the matter. Mr W. Gow seconded Mr i Kinmont s motion. , , After some argument and rawing of points of order, the Presbytery went on to the next business, Mr Chisholm dissenting. Mr Chisholm gave notice of lr.s reasons for dissent, whjch were as follow : (1) It has boon continuallv asserted that the Church- has stood selfishly aloof from matters of practical interest affecting the welfare, especially of these not in a position to voice then- own grievances. I believe that this attempt to burk discussion on a matter affecting the comfort and wellbeing of the nurses in the hospital will beset throughout the community the opinion that the Presbytery arc either cowardlv or unfeeling in relation to such a deserving class as the nurses in our hospital. (2f I cannot see that tho Church will be of much practical value in tho community if it shirks' tho responsibility of dealing with a question that is not political or social, but purely humanitarian.