Nurses' Memorial Fund

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XI, Issue 3, 1 July 1918, Page 150

Nurses' Memorial Fund

Introductory to our First Annual Report it may be well to give a short account of the origin and founding of the Fund. The question of establishing some memorial to the nurses who have lost their lives in the present war was first discussed in the early part of December, 191 5", by the committee of the Otago branch of the Trained Nurses' Association. The President (Miss Thompson) brought the matter under the notice of Dr. H. Lindo Ferguson, Dean of the Medical Faculty, Otago University, and asked him to aid in the establishment of a benevolent fund for sick and aged nurses. Dr. Ferguson accordingly spoke on this subject at a meeting which was held to welcome Dr. Marshall Macdonald on his return from the front. The idea thus 1 aunched was again discussed at the annual meeting of the Trained Nurses Association on October 20, 1916, when Dr. Ferguson explained the scope and general scheme of the suggested fund ; and the meeting passed a motion of approval and support. Her Excellency Lady Liverpool was very much interested in the idea of a fund, and kindly agreed to act as Patroness. During November, 1916, a provisional committee was formed in Dunedin to take the matter in hand, and subscriptions began to be received ; but progress at first was slow, as the committee wished to launch the scheme in all the large centres simultaneously, and difficulty was experience in getting committees to undertake the work otherwise than in Dunedin. Rules for the control and management of the fund were drafted by the Dunedin committee and discussed chiefly with the Wellington committee which took the matter up warmly, and has throughout been very energetic. These rules were approved by those interested in other districts, aid the cortrolling body, known as the Central Committee, now contains representatives of all the provinces of New Zealand. The rules have been printed and widely circulated, and the collection of funds commenced in earnest. The result, thanks especially to the Wellington committee and the great irterest and energy shown by the chairman (Dr. William Young), must be regarded as very satisfactory, the fund at the close of the past financial year having a capital of more than £5,000, which sum has been invested in New Zealand War Loan, leaving a small working balance in hand. It is, however, obvious that this capital (yielding an income of £225 per annum) is not sufficient to meet the demands that are likely to be made on the fund, and it is hoped that not only will the capital sum be largely increased, but that a much greater number of annual subscribers will associate themselves with the fund. If the public realises the debt owing to tho members of the nursing profesnion, there will be no difficulty iu doubling or trebling our capital, and in securing a substantial incorm from annual ooiitributidaS.

There are well over 2,000 nurses on the New Zealand Register eligible for assistance from this fund, and of these over 400 have left New Zealand on war service. While an annual income of £225 is a good start, it may be quite insufficient to meet the calls that these numbers render probable. Of the sum now in hand the Wellington Branch contributed £3,175, Otago and Southland £1,510, Auckland £326, and Wanganui £20. Sc far, no response has come from Christchurch, save £10 from Messrs. A. S. Paterson and Co., received through their Dunedin house. Special thanks are due to Dr. William Young and the Wellington Branch, to various Trained Nurses* Associations, to the Auckland Hospital nursing staff, the Patriotic Societies of Feilding, Masterton, Palmerston North, and others, and to many private collectors, si ch a* Mrs. H. Lindo Ferguson, Dunedin (£518), Mrs. F. McKenzie, Wellington (£236), Mrs. Kendall, Wellington (£135), Mr. A. F. Hawke, Invercargill (£126), and to the many very generous firms and individuals whose names will be found in the list of life members. A measure of relief has been afforded to a nurse who, by reason of old age, is unable to follow her calling ; and the fund is now in a position to deal with applications as they come forward to, ao ar-y rate, a limited extent. Mr. W. T. Monkman, F.P.A.N.Z., kindly undertook the duties of hon. secretary to the provisional committee, but found himself unable to devote the necessary time to them, and Miss Helen Williams was good enough to take them over, Mr. Monkman being provisionally appointed hon. auditor. This gentleman cheerfully gave much of his valuable time and expert business experience to the work of putting the fund on a sound and satisfactory footing. The committee found his services most helpful, and desire heartily to thank him and express their regret that he was unable to continue them. Mr. C. W. Chamberlain has acted as hon. treasurer, with a seat on the committee, since th e inception of the fund. H. LINDO FERGUSON, President. The above report shows that the Memorial Fund has in the first year made very good progress. It is to be regretted that the Christchurch branch has made no effort to send a contribution. The contributions from Auckland can scarcely be attributed to that branch, as it was the result of the fete in the hospital grounds, organised by the hospital nursing staff. The Committee formed have so far not accomplished anything in assistance to the fund. Subscribers to "Kai Tiaki" will be pleased to know that during the year the sum of £75 from the "Kai Tiaki ; ' Fund has been forwarded to Dunedin for the Memorial

Fund. The Editor intends to devote all moneys of subscribers over and above the actual expenses of publication and distribution to the Memorial Fund. So nurses in subscribing to and helping in the circulation of " Kai Tiaki " will be helping the Fund. Owing to the paper being for a limited class of readers, the circulation is not large enough to produce a revenue of much over the actual cost of of printing. All work in connection with

the journal is honorary, with the exception of a very small sum of £4 per annum for clerical assistance in keeping the roll of subscribers and addressing journals. All literary contributions are freely given, and the editor is grateful for such. There is much most interesting and valuable material in our New Zealand hospitals. If nurses would write accounts of their cases and new treatments given it would help many who have not equal opportunities