NURSES' REGISTRATION

Evening Star, Issue 19001, 24 July 1925, Page 4

NURSES' REGISTRATION

Bill BEFORE THE HOUSE STATE MATERNITY HOSPITALS. —®- [Peu United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 23. The Nurses and M.idwivcs’ .Registration Bill (Sir Maui Pomarc) came up iu committee of the House of" Representatives. Mr Sullivan protested that such an important measure had not been referred to some committee of the House, so that those interested would have an opportunity to give evidence. He did not question any of the principles of the Bill, but there were many details about which there was room lor dilference of opinion. The Minister replied that the Bill was practically a consolidating measure, and there was no need to refer it to a committee. A nurse who was being trained in England would have to show that she had the equivalent of Now Zealand training before she could bo registered here. Mr Wright appealed for the “oldtime ” midwife who had no professional training, hut had nursed many mothers, and had never had a latal case. Those people were not able to pass examinations, but should not ho deprived of tho means of earning a living. Ho objected to local bodies being more heavily taxed for tho benefit of hospital and charitable aid rates. Tho Minister denied that the administration would bo increased in cost by this Bill.

Mr Savage pointed out that there was a new principle involved in danse 14, which proposed to set up State maternity hospitals, which might ho handed over to hospital boards. He was in favor of State maternity hospitals. The Minister replied that it was not compulsory for hospital boards to take these hospitals over. Some had already consented.

Mr Hockly said that hospital and charitable aid rates were rising every year, and the men on the land wore paving the greater portion of them. This might be money well spent, but the burden was not evenly apportioned. Country settlers were definitely against the present system of apportioning the cost of hospitals and charitable aid. Mr Sullivan contended that the Minister could, if he liked, compel a hospital board to take over a State maternity hospital. Messrs' Armstrong and Yoitch asked that the Bill should bo sent to a committee of the House.

Mr M’Combs urged that the Kill should bo sent to the Public Health Committee, which could examine it clause by clause. He would not say it was a scandal, but it was a calamity that the dominion had the present Minister in charge of this Bill and of tho Public Health Department. He did not understand the Bill, which was throwing the cost on to the ratepayers and taking it off tho Consolidated Fund. He moved to report progress on the Kill with a view to referring it to a committee.

Sir James Parr regretted tho vitriolic attack upon Sir Maui Pomare, which, he said, was not shared by those host able to judge—namely, the hospital boards. At the recent conference of these boards a motion was passed expros.'ting the utmost confidence in the Minister and the industry ho had shown in the administration of his department. The commission which he had sot up when he was Minister of Health had shown that this Kill was necessary to check the awful infantile mortality by ensuring qualified nurses ami midwives. Clause 14 could bo amended, if the House desired it to ho done, to make it clear that the taking over of State maternity hospitals by the hospital hoards would ho purely voluntary. On resuming after the supper adjournment the Minister contended that his explanations to the committee had been lucid and courteous, and he did not deserve the censure passed by Air M’Combs, which he treated with contempt. The Prime Minister made an appeal to the committee to get on. with the Bill. Clause 14 could he and would be amended, if necessary. Tho clauses wore then quickly passed down to 14, when Sir -lames Parr proposed to add certain words winch would make it “abundantly” dear that the transfer of State maternity hospitals to hospital boards could be done only with the consent of such hoards. Mr M'Combs indicated that Sir James Parr’s amendment did riot meet his objections, and it was agreed to report progress on the Bill to give time for further consideration.