Wellington

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume IV, Issue 4, 1 October 1911, Page 141

Wellington

The annual meeting was held m the Young Women's Christian Association Rooms on October 25th, 1911. Miss Maclean presided, and about thirty members were present. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted, and "rules for incorporation were passed.

'Following is the result of the ballot election of Council : — President, Dr. Young ; vice-presidents, Miss Maclean, Mrs. Gibbs ; hon. treasurer, Mrs McDonald ; hon. secretary, Miss Dunlop. Medical members : —Dr. Ewart, Dr. Herbert, Dr. McGavin,

Dr. Tolhurst. General Council .—Mrs. Thompson, Mrs Porter, Miss A. McLean, Mrs. Stephens Miss Kohn, Mrs Picken, Miss Payne, Miss Broadbent. Lay members members : — Mrs Young, Miss Coates. Annum, Report. Your Council has much pleasure m submitting the annual report of the Associations work. As m the past the year has been one of steady progress. The membership stands at 196. There are five medical members, two lay members, thirty-seven midwifery

nurses, three masseusses, and the other are all general nurses.

A social evening was held m the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last Nobember, but was not a great success. In February a general meeting of nurses was held m St. John's Schoolroom. The syllabus for the winter was then arranged, and lectures have since been given by Dr. Tolhurst, Dr. McEvedy, Miss Maclean, Dr Begg, Dr. Whyte, and Miss Bagley.

An effort was made to start a sick fund for nurses, but little has been accomplished m this direction. The Council decided, that unless one hundred nurses would support the fund, there could be no definite action taken. Only thirty-one nurses promised to become subscribers.

The Council at this time approached the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board with the object of having special terms granted to sick nurses while under treatment m the hospital. The Board could not see its way to grant special terms indiscriminately, but were willing to consider Councils request when necessity arose. Since then the Hospital Board had generously cancelled the the whole account of one of our sick members. The relationship between the Hospital Board and the Council is a friendly one, and the cheque for £33 13s Od (handed over as the result of our sale), was very substantial evidence of our goodwill.

The most important business of the year was our president's building scheme. Particulars of this have already been given m Kai Tiaki. Over £2,000 worth of debentures have been taken up, the site has been purchased, and Messrs Penty and Lawrence are to be entrusted with the architecture al work of the new building.

It became necessary then to have our Association incorporated, and steps were taken to have this done. The consent of a majority of the members was given, and rules, drawn up by Messrs Meek and Von Haast, and approved by your Council and the Registrar, are now ready for adoption by the members.

During the year we had to accept, with much regret, the resignation of Mrs Holgate, Mrs Crawford, and Mrs Newman. Mrs Stephens was elected by Council to fill Mrs Crawford's place.

In April Nurse Dencker resigned her posi-

tion as visiting nurse. Nurse Isla Stewart and Nurse Kirkham acted m this capacity for a short time, and Nurse Tylee has now been appointed visiting nurse.

Miss Stewart, matron of the Home, was granted six months leave of absence, and Mrs Keene was appointed to act as matron during her absence. Since this Miss Stewart has resigned her position, and Mrs Keene has been appointed matron of our Nurses' Home.

During the year several difficult questions arising between patients and nurses, have been satisfactorily settled by Council.

The Nurses' Ball was held m May, and although there was a slight loss, the committee is to be congratulated on the perfection of the arrangements.

The thanks of our Association are due to Dr. Young, for the great interest he has taken m it. It is entirely due to his efforts that we shall soon have a building m every way suitable for a Nurses' Home.

To Mrs Thompson, who has been our treasurer for three years we extend our gratitude for all her labours on our behalf, and trust that she will long be associated with us.

Our thanks are also due to Messrs .Meek and Von Haast as legal advisers, and to Mr. Tripe for selling debentures and enabling us to obtain a loan.

After the adoption of the report and balance sheet Miss Maclean gave a short address to the members of which the following is an extract : —

You will no doubt be pleased to hear that what I fear you have for the last ten years regarded as a vision m the air is really to be substantiated at last. I allude to the Nursing Department of the New Zealand Military Forces. I understand ' from headquarters that we are to form a branch of Queen Alexandra's Imperial Nursing Guild, I hope shortly to be able to publish the regulations, and that the nurses will be enrolled m the immediate future. Those names which have been forwarded to me as volunteers will of course be included, but more are wanted.

I have on many occasions m our Journal alluded to the many avenues opening out for nurses m work other than hospital o private nursing. I hope the nurses w

be found ready to take their part m the schemes m the betterment of the race which are being thought out and inaugurated by those who have to do with the health of the people. Had nurses had the opportunity of attending the Conference of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, held m June last, they would have been impressed and I think almost overwhelmed by the large share they are looked to to take m the prevention and cure of disease. They would too, have been proud to feel they are of so much importance m the various schemes. Tuberculosis, dispensary work, inspection and treatment of school children, following up of hospital treatment of outdoor patients,

back block nursing, maternity nursing, teaching of hygiene m the homes of the people, Charitable Aid, prevention of infant mortality, care of the native health — m all and every one the nurse is needed to make it a success. While I listened I felt where are we to get these women who are needed ] and I hoped that we would not have far to seek. Now as there are the rules for incorporation to discuss and pass, I must not trepass any longer on your time. The rules were then read and carefully considered, and the small alteration necessary for incorporation adopted.

The meeting wound up with conversation and refreshments.