UNIVERSAL TRAINING FOR GIRLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 69

UNIVERSAL TRAINING FOR GIRLS.

An interesting little gathering took placy at the Sanatorium, Cambridge, a few clays ago, when the members of the Waikato Nurses’ Mounted Corps, accompanied by a few enthusiastic supporters, accepted kind invitation of the matron to visit the institution, and whilst there discuss, tlic posai- - bilities of a larger movement fraught with' great possibilities in the building up o£ the Empire. The Nurses’ Corps was accompained by Colonel Alien Bell, Major J. S. Purdy (lately appointed Chief Health Officer for Tasmania), Captains A. S. Brewis and Fraser-Hurst. Dr Buck, M.P., had, also intended to be present, but was unfortunately called away to Auckland. The Chairman (Colonel Bell):,, Said that' they had met there that day to discuss a question that was of the utmost importance to the nation, and one that up to the present had not received that attention which it deserved. The happy termination of their efforts for the universal training of the young men of the .country had now left their hands free to further extend the movement in the direction suggested by Major Purdy, that of universal training for the girls of the nation dm such subjects as ambulance, nursing, cooking, household management, and physical drill. In Waikato they had been particularly fortunate in having a number of ladies who took a keen interest in all work of a patriotic nature, and through whose instrumentality they had been successful in establishing the Nurses’ Mounted Corps. The idea was to use this corps around which to build up the larger scheme of universal training for girls. The adoption of this scheme w'ould be foundl of inestimable value in time of war, and, like the sister movement of universal training for the young men of the , country, would have a marked effect on the national character. Waikato was the birthplace of the universal training movement in New Zealand. Let it also be the birthplace of the wider movement —the training of the girls of the country.—(Applause.) Colonel Bell concluded by reading a letter from Dr Buck, M.P., who said: “ The/movement for the organising of nursing and tha care of the sick and wounded must com. mend itself to every patriotic New Zealander. In the ancient history of this courw try the Maori women played an important part in war. Civilisation should extend and not narrow the sphere of women, in tending to suffering humanity, whether in time of peace or in time of war.” Major Purdy said the introduction o. 8 compulsory training in this country, together with the medical inspection of'.school children and their treatment for any physical defects by medical men and dentists would go far to build up the future manhood and womanhood of this country. Physical training and the teaching of hygienic rules of living should not be confined to the boys of the country. The girls, as the future mothers, should be made aa physically perfect as possible. In. recognising that the health of a nationphysical, mental, and moral—is its greatest asset, we must simultaneously, recognise the all-powerful influence of woman. Given healthy children in arms, boys trained to the use of arms, and girl® trained to care for the sick and wounded, we need have no fear as to the future of our Empire. If physical training did nothing more than teach our children to breathe correctly, to walk upright, to love the open air, and to live clean lives, it should appeal to the people of the Dominion, especially those who advocate efficiency and economy. It would lessen the demand for members of his own profession, for the establishment of sanitoria, hospitals, asylums, and prisons, and would assist in turning out better ordered and better regulated citizens. In order to bring about this highly desirable state of affairs he had suggested that continuation classes be formed where instruction would be given in the subjects mentioned by the chairman, and wihch itt would be compulsory for every girl between the ages of 14- and 17 years to attend. The adoption of this idea in connection with the scheme of universal military training for the youth of the country would lead all to recognise the truth of the doctrine that it was the duty of everyone who enjoyed the benefits of living undet the British flag- to each do his or Ivor part to uphold it. Captain Frazer-Hurst (lately in command of the Te Puke Mounted Rifles) said thab as one who had seen a considerable amoiiub of active service, both in China and South Africa, the want of a sufficient supply d? efficient nursing’ assistants had been forcibly, brought homo to him. Miss Rochfo.rt (matron) said that tha scheme which they had now launched opened up a wide sphere of useful work; for Women. It was not possible that theyf could receive that high training in the profession of nursing - given to those who had spent years in a hospital, but under thej proposed scheme they could, without spending an undue amount of time, prepare themselves to be very valuable assistant to the professional nurse®, not only in tin<(f of war, but in their everyday lives*