Wellington Provincial Masseurs' Association

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 2, 1 April 1923, Page 52

Wellington Provincial Masseurs' Association

Towards the end of last year a meeting was called to discuss the advisability of forming an Association amongst the registered Masseurs of the Wellington province. The meeting was well attended and provisional rules were formulated, and many of those present intimated their desire to form an Association. This has now been done, with the result that a young, but extremely enthusiastic Association has been established. Meetings are held regularly, when most interesting lectures have been given by members of the Association Dr. Wylie, who has been away in America, has been invited to be the first President of the Association, and his reply is now awaited. Miss Maclean, R.R.C., Matron- in- Chief, New Zealand Army Nursing Service, has accepted the position of honorary lifemembership. The Honorary Vice- Presidents elected for the present year are Dr. Eardsley Fenwick, Dr. Herbert, Dr. Hardwick- Smith, Dr.Bowerbank, Dr. Wilson,. Dr. Duncan Stout, who have all accepted the office. The Committee of the Association is as follows : Vice-Presi-dents : Miss Brandon, A.R.R.C, Mr. R. T. McLean ; Committee : Miss M. Mitchell, Miss Christine Smith, Miss M. Kane, Mr. R. James, Mr. Drummond Duthie, and Mr. W. Barke. Hon. Treasurer, Miss Gould, Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. 0. Jorgensen. Meetings are held regularly. A course of most interesting lectures has been promised by members of the Medical Profession, the first of which was given by Dr. Fenwick, on April 9th. Dr. Fenwick urged the members not to depend only on lectures from the Medical Profession, but to discuss among themselves their work and the cases of interest they

are concerned with. Already one very interesting paper was given, in March, by Mr. R. McLean. The lectures are to be typed and circulated among the country members, who are unable to attend. Besides the lectures the meetings of the Association have been the means of bringing the members of the profession in closer touch with one another. Arrangements have been made for meetings to be he]d in the Pioneer Club Rooms, and the following is the Syllabus of lectures arranged for the year : — Pioneer Club Rooms, Lambton Quay. Monday, 8 p.m. April 9th— Dr. Fenwick . . Suggestive Therapeutics May 14th — Dr. Hardwick -Smith Blood Pressure June 11th— Dr. Bowerbank . . Goitre & Hyper Thyroidism July 9th— Dr. Herbert . . Etiquette August 13th — Dr. T. D. Stout . . Fractures Sept. 10th— Dr. Robertson . . Electricity in Modern Treatment Oct. Bth. — Open Discussion amongst Members Nov. 12th — . . General Meeting. Editor's Note. It is to be hoped that this beginning may develop into an Association for the whole Dominion. It is only by this means that the Masseurs Act can be improved and made to carry out the desires of the profession to attain a high standard of practice and ideals. There is now a local Association formed in Auckland, but unless linked up together these organisations will have little power. Recently, in Australia, an Act was passed for the registration of Masseurs, which is based on very good lines, largely owing to the fact that there had been for years a very strong organisation, which, although a voluntary Association only, practically controlled the training and practice of Masseurs. A good basis had therefore been established on which it was possible to draft a satisfactory Bill.