H.—3l

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Sisters in English hospitals. They are housed and fed, and in some hospitals various means of recreation are provided. No doubt, if they went through their probationership without payment, it might be possible—as in a certain Toronto hospital—to provide libraries, swimming-baths, and gymnasium, with instructors. There the nurses receive no salary during training. While, however, the larger hospitals provide a good equivalent for the work expected from their nurses in the instruction given over and above the small salary, it is not unfrequently the case that in some of the smaller hospitals the course of lectures, all to be given probably by one Medical Officer, is not up to the required standard set by the regulations under the Nurses Registration Act. It is the plain duty of the Hospital Boards to see that the contract under which young women enter their hospitals for training are complied with, and to provide the proper instruction, without which they are allowing themselves to be parties to a fraud. The girls who enter and work hard for the hospital do so in good faith that they are to receive the training laid down under the Nurses Registration Act. It is almost impossible in the very small country hospitals for a nurse to obtain during three years experience fitting her for registration as a trained nurse. As a matter of fact, few candidates for examination come from these hospitals. It is to be feared that girls are encouraged to enter with the hope of being trained, but soon realize their mistake and pass on to larger hospitals or give up in disgust. It would be more honest on the part of the authorities governing these hospitals, on which unfortunately no bar is laid by the Registration Act, to frankly acknowledge their disability and take the girls only as a preliminary to sending them on elsewhere. In fact, they might affiliate with the larger hospitals for this purpose. The Medical Superintendents and Matrons often do their best to give the necessary course of lectures and practical instruction in order to fulfil the contract entered into by the Boards, but as pupils do not often remain long it is a case of beginning over and over again, and most disheartening to the teachers. It is time, now that the Act has been in operation for twelve years, to give consideration to the more satisfactory training of nurses under such conditions. Maori Nurses. One Maori probationer passed the State examination in. June, 1912, taking a very fair place. She was too young for registration until April, 1913, and remained at her training-school (Palmerston North Hospital) in the interval. She is to enter St. Helens Hospital for six months, and after that course to take up Native health work. One Maori probationer died of typhoid fever at the Gisborne Hospital, where she was. training, and was much regretted. Two others, who had completed training, have since married. There are now seven Maori girls going on with their training in various hospitals, and one of these is coming up for examination in June. District Nurses. The district nursing scheme for the backblocks is steadily progressing, but not so fast as might be desired. There are now nine nurses working under this heading, at Uruti, Seddon, Motu, Waipiro Bay, Eketahuna, Masterton, King-country, Stewart Island, and Invercargill, and one is to be established at Warkworth. There are also nurses subsidized by the Hospital Boards or County Councils at Whangaroa and Waipu. The Bay of Islands Board has four subsidized maternity nurses—at Herekino, Kaeo, Okaihau, and Houhora. In the towns there are district nurses established at Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Palmerston North, and Wanganui. * Plunket Nurses. The Society for the Health of Women and Children has now nurses in the following districts : Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Napier, Timaru, Gore, Gisborne, Hawera, and Wanganui. These nurses are not expected to do sick-nursing except under special circumstances in some country districts, but are more regarded as health missioners to prevent sickness, especially among the infant population. They are expected to preach the laws of hygiene throughout their districts, and to watch over the feeding and bringing-up of infants in all classes. A proportion of the upkeep of the nurse is undertaken by each branch society, and contributions for the purpose subsidized by the Government. The appointment of nurses must be approved by the Department, and reports of their work sent in to the district offices. Dr. Truby King, Superintendent of Seacliff Mental Hospital, was released from his duties for several months'and attached to the Department of Public Health in order to carry on a campaign against infant mortality throughout the Dominion. He lectured and demonstrated on proper methods of feeding, and generally on the laws of hygiene and health, in almost every township, and succeeded in awakening great interest in the crusade, and in the formation of many new branches of the society. It is easily to be understood that women with exceptional qualities and great personal influence are required to accomplish very much good in this work. Nurses who are well capable of nursing a case of illness may not be successful in instilling the principles of healthful living into those who are not ill, and in carrying out work in which so much must be left to their own initiative. Native Health Nurses. It is now nearly two years since this Department took over the care of the Native health from the Native Department, and since the last annual report was written much has been done in the nursing department. Miss Bagley is still in charge of this branch of work, and Nurses Beetham, Anderson Cormack, Mataira, Lewis, and McElligott are still in their respective districts. The last-named nurse'