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In a recent report published in England on the training and work of midwives great stress is laid on the need for (a) refresher courses for practising midwives, (b) further training in the methods of infant welfare, and (c) the careful supervision of the practising midwife by a member of her own profession. Therefore, in planning the above-mentioned means for keeping the staffs of obstetrical hospitals in touch with new developments, New Zealand is definitely working along approved lines. Much more, however, remains to be done, and it is hoped to further interest nurses specializing in this important branch of nursing. The Nursing Staff. St. Helens Hospitals.—Miss Broadley, who had been matron of Auckland St. Helens Hospital for fifteen years, and a member of the staff for twenty-two years, was, after a long illness, retired in January of this year. It was with great regret that the Department released her from duty, and it is the hope of all members of the staff that she may enjoy a happy and useful retirement. Miss Broadley was replaced by Miss V. Oppenheim, who had been matron in Dunedin for six years ; Miss A. Joyce, sub-matron at Wellington being transferred to Dunedin as matron. Two or three other senior members of the staff have been off duty for long periods owing to sickness. This has meant a good deal of unavoidable change of personnel. Renovations have taken place at all of the hospitals with the exception of Dunedin. These have added largely to the comfort of both the patients and the staff. Queen Mary Hospital, Hammer Springs.—Amongst the more junior members of the staff there have been a great many changes ; many of the sisters only remaining for a few months. This is due to a variety of reasons, one being that many wish to be released to take further training or to take positions leading to wider experience. The problem of training nurses willing and sufficiently interested to specialize in nervous diseases is one which will have to be faced, particularly as the hospital is situated in a comparatively isolated country district. Field Staff. —During the year Miss Lea, Nurse Inspector, Wellington, was seconded for service in Fiji. Miss Comrie was transferred to Wellington to take her place. Miss R. A. Knight, from Whangarei, was transferred to the South Auckland district as Nurse Inspector, with headquarters at Hamilton, and Miss E. Leslie was appointed to fill the vacancy at Whangarei. Among the district nurses there have also been several changes. Mrs. Oliphant, who was district nurse at Hastings since July, 1928, after an illness of some months, died on 12th May, 1935. Previous to her appointment to Hastings, before her marriage, Mrs. Oliphant had been matron at St. Helens Hospital, Auckland, and also matron of Auckland Hospital. She was a woman of particularly fine character, kind and generous to a fault, and tremendously beloved by all who came in contact with her. Although the funeral took place at very short notice and was intended to be of a private character, over two hundred Maoris led by Bishop Bennett, representing the district to which she had given so much thought, followed in the cortege. The sympathy of the Department is extended to her young family, who have a wonderful example in the life of their mother. An interesting development has also been requests from two Hospital Boards asking for the Department to take over the control of the district nurses employed by them. It was realized in each case that departmental control provides better professional supervision and makes exchanges of staff possible. These requests were particularly interesting, as another Hospital Board refused to continue to provide a cottage and its quota towards the district nurse's transport unless the Board controlled the nurse. In view of previous experience the Department refused this request, and the nurse was removed to an area where the hospital and medical services were not so adequate. Group meetings of district nuises were held at Whangarei and Gisborne with the object of bringing the staff together so as to make for a co-ordinated plan of action. An endeavour is being made to encourage each nurse to plan her work in such a way that she visits certain areas on certain days of the week so that definite group meetings can be held. It is only possible to carry out a health-teaching programme where a system of this kind is in operation. Its adoption means that calls for sickness must be dealt with differently, and that the nurse cannot answer every call by a visit in person. To ensure that no one is neglected it is essential that a responsible person should be taught in each settlement who can be depended upon to tell the nurse whether it is urgent she should go at once. Where this plan is in operation the nurse does a round of the settlement at the time of her meeting, and much illness can be prevented by seeing it in its early stages, and the urgent calls become much fewer. A system of this kind ultimately benefits far more people and makes for better organization and economy in travelling. Some nurses have been reluctant to adopt it for fear of neglecting some one who is ill, but those who are carrying it out speak highly of it. The problem of making group meetings attractive has turned the staff's attention to the Women's Institute. This organization is particularly attractive to the Maori, and through it not only can health education be undertaken but also all forms of housecrafts on which, after all, health education must be based. It further provides a means by which the pride of race is stimulated through Native arts and crafts. This is a most important aspect, and no race can progress unless it is conscious of its own ability and aware of its own defects,

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