FUND FOR NURSES

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 2

FUND FOR NURSES

ALLEVIATING HARDSHIP ANNUAL MEETING OF MOVEMENT “ While this memorial might have taken the form of a monument in marble or stone, I believe that any such inanimate thing could not compare with tho memorial w© have now —a memorial which, while acting as a reminder of the nurses’ part in the Great War, also is a, reminder of what they are doing now,” commented Mr C. Russell Smith, who presided at the twentieth annual meeting of tho New Zealand Nurses’ Memorial Fund (Inc.) yesterday afternoon in the Town liail Council Chambers. The fund, established to financially assist nurses, totalled £29,305 at March 31, and in its 20 years’ existence £17,000 has been distributed. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report stated that the capital fund of £29,305 had increased to that amount from £27,987 as the result of legacies received, increased contributions through various branches of the Nurses’ Associations, individual nurses, balance of money (£B2 10s 9d) left over from the earthquake disaster fund after providing for all necessitous cases, and badge sales by Oamaru nurses and residents, under tho organisation of Mr Colquhoun, of the Returned Soldiers’ Association (amount received, £55 12s). These increments would be reflected in increased income in future, except in so far as reduced interest rates counterbalanced the increase. Tho growing interest of nurses in the fund was very gratifying to the committee, and was indicated by the funds sent in. These amounted to £395, against £272 last year. Apart from tho funds from nurses, new life members, and interest on investments, the income was very small (£35). If the work accomplished by the fund were better known it would receive

more generous help from the public than was the case at present. Tho fund was a war memorial dedicated to those women who gave their services and their lives in the Great War. It commemorated the dead by giving assistance to tho living, who, through accident or ill-health, were either temporarily or permanently _ unable to support themselves. During the 20 years of its existence over £17,000 had been distributed among nurses who were in urgent need of financial assistance. At the beginning of the year under review there were 35 nurses in receipt of relief. At March 31 this year the number was 30. The smaller number had reduced the demand on funds, hut further calls were inevitable, and the committee would like to give help on a more liberal scale than it had been able to do in the past. Based on relief to nurses for April, 1937, it was pleasing to know that assured income covered tho outgoings to the nurses concerned, but this favourable position was not at all likely to continue for long, and made additional revenue desirable. “GREAT BOON TO NURSES.” Commenting on the financial state of the fund, tho Chairman, moving the adoption of -the report and balance sheet, said that the £1,318 increase in the capital of the fund was gratifying, and he felt that in the course of time the assets were _ going to be larger, and a great boon in tho future to nurses in need of assistance. Since the fund’s inception, £17,000 had been distributed iri relief to sick and disabled nurses. From time to time tho committee received correspondence from recipients showing how valuable was the relief. The contributions from the nurses’ associations throughout the Dominion had increased, and in that respect an excellent spirit of sacrifice was shown by the nurses themselves, as those who contributed towards tho fund did not necessarily benefit from it. Expenses during the year’s operations had been about 2 per cent, of the income, and as most of that amount was absorbed in correspondence expenses there was little scope for a reduction of that expenditure. More publicity about the fund

was needed in order to increase public suppoz-t, and he thought the committee should concentrate on the propaganda aspect of the work. Eulogistic reference to the work of the committee of the memorial fund was made by Miss Hilditeh (matron of the Truby King-Hams Hospital) on behalf of the registered nurses of Otago. The report was then adopted. OFFICE-BEARERS. Tho election of office-bearers resulted : President, Sir Lindo Ferguson, C.M.G.; vice-presidents, Mr James Begg and Dr W. Young (Wellington); committee—Misses Holford, Lancaster, and Theomin, Messrs C. W. Rattray and C. Russell Smith (Otago), Mrs Ethel A, Kidd and Mr Oliver Nicholson (Auckland), Sir Hugh Ackland and Miss J. L. Beck (Canterbury), and Dr R. Burns Watson (Southland); lion, secretary, Mrs H. W. Bundle; hon. treasurer, Mr J. A. M‘Kinnon; hon. auditor, Mr W. T. Monkman; hon. solicitor, Mr A. N. Haggitt.