H—3l

These results, both in general and obstetrical hospitals, would not have been possible had it not been for several factors : (1) The increased salaries recommended by the Salaries Advisory Committee and agreed to by the Government. (2) The immigration scheme, which has brought both registered nurses and girls for training as nurses to New Zealand. Although a small proportion have proved unsuitable, by far the greater majority have fitted in well to the nursing life in New Zealand. (3) The combined recruitment policy which has been conducted by the Joint Committee of the Department and the New Zealand Hospital Boards' Association Executive. This scheme has resulted in thousands of inquiries being received, and although many may be too young for training, the interest in nursing is aroused. (4) The pre-nursing course was commenced last year at Wellington Hospital in conjunction with a group of five secondary schools. The girls were very interested and proved capable of good work. This year the scheme hae spread to eight other centres, and it is hoped, as the schools become adjusted to the new syllabus, the course may extend to all centres of any size. Health -of Nursing Staff A Research Officer has been employed by the Department, attached to the Division of Tuberculosis, to investigate the question of tuberculosis amongst nurses. A preliminary report has been prepared which is referred to in the report of the Tuberculosis Division. This report draws attention to the accuracy with which returns should be kept and forwarded ; the standardization of forms ; the necessity for reviewing nursing technique carefully in the light of bacteriological knowledge ; the need for reviewing diet and recreational facilities ; but, above all, the importance of the allocation of duties to ensure fair distribution and the arrangements for health supervision of the staff, this depending so much upon the personality of the person directly responsible. In our anxiety regarding tuberculosis, other aspects of health supervision are often overlooked, and in my annual reports I have on many occasions pointed out that sickleave for many preventable conditions could be reduced considerably—i.e., septic fingers, dysentery, tonsilitis, to mention only a few. Why should 236 out of 3,300 pupil-nurses have tonsilitis in one year ? Public Health Nub sing Following on the return to New Zealand of Dr. H. Deem, the medical adviser to the Plunket Society, arrangements were made that in a number of the more isolated areas the Department's District Nurses should undertake the work of the Plunket Society, and that in future when either organization was appointing a nurse to a purely rural scattered area consideration should be given as to whether the work could not be done by one nurse employed by either organization. This agreement has necessitated a revision of the Department's record forms, so that only one set of records, which will be satisfactory to either organization, is required to be kept by the individual nurse. A consistent policy of staff education has been carried out during the year by means of staff conferences, extension of district libraries, and of health-education material in the form of films, posters, &c.

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