H.—22

4

taught, but there is a positive tendency, which is encouraged on the score of expense, to have as many probationers as possible, who get no pay for a period, and often no regular instruction. The result is such an output of so-called hospital-trained nurses that the profession is nearly swamped by them. They call themselves private nurses, though they in many cases have no certificate, and could not pass any kind of an examination. Doctors too heedlessly introduce such persons into the homes of their patients, where they are quite unfit to exercise the most ordinary of a nurse's duties. They know nothing about nursing, but they add a new and very real, as well as costly, terror to illness and death. They will not or cannot cook anything towards the comfort and proper feeding of their patients ; they are chiefly remarkable for their incessant demands for having everybody wait on them, and are in some cases very dangerous members of any household. I trust no one will imagine that I am in the least forgetful of the noble qualities and services, both in hospitals and private practice, of our really qualified nurses, than whom, as a body, none better can be found anywhere. My only object has been to call attention to obvious evils, with a view to remedial legislation ; and I am certain that I will have the support and sympathy of every genuinely qualified nurse in the colony. The Government have prepared a Bill for the State registration of nurses, and the effect will be, if it passes, to lead to an organization of all who are properly qualified. Their names will be annually published by the State. This is the only method by which the nursing profession can be placed in such a position as will enable it to remedy the evils which are rapidly invading it, and secure the advantages and public confidence which it so fully deserves. No interference whatever is intended with the right of every person to employ whatever nursing he may desire. The State limits itself to giving a reliable list of nurses properly trained and tested by State examinations. D. MacGregoe, M.A., M.B.

ABEOWTOWN HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1900 ... ... ... 6 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 100 Total under treatment ... ... ... 106 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... 92 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Bemaining on 31st March, 1901 ... ... 9 Sex. —76 males, 30 females. Locality from which Patients came.—h&k.e Vincent and Southland Counties. Nationality. —British, 97 ; Foreign, 5. Religion. —Church of England, 27 ; Presbyterian, 46 ; Wesleyan, 1 ; Boman Catholic, 24 ; Lutheran, 3; Confucian, 1. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 2,434 ; individual average days' stay, 22-96. Daily average cost per head, Bs. Bfd. ; less patients' payments, 7s. 4d. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 51 ; attendances, 109. Beceipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. •d. I Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 481 11 4 ! Bations, fuel, and light ... ... 244 4 3 Local bodies ... ... ... 356 911 ', Surgery and dispensary, &c. ... 69 9 9 Subscriptions and donations ... 118 17 0 { Bedding and clothing ... ... 29 14 7 Patients'payments ... ... 170 17 6 ! Salaries and wages ... ... 418 7 7 Balance from last year ... ... 24 10 4 j Funerals ... ... ... 300 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 614 0 Commission ... ... ... 516 3 Insurance ... ... ... 9 19 9 Additions to buildings ... ... 15 7 6 Other expenses ... ... 261 14 5 Total ... £1,152 6 1 Total ... £1,064 8 1 Visited 2nd January.—Five men and three women patients. Dr. Bell Thomson, having reurned from the Old Country, is again in charge. Everything satisfactory.