Editorial

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 1 October 1925, Page 165

Editorial

During the last weeks of the Parliamentary Session just concluded, some legislation of moment to nurses was passed. The first was the amendment to the National Provident Act which is intended specially for the provisions of superannuation for nurses, although other permanent members of the staffs of hospitals may be included on a voluntary basis. This legislation lias been long promised. It has been constantly brought up m the House by members who realised that those of their constituents, who follow the profession of nursing, are not well provided for as regards their future. Before the Great War fell like a thunderclap on the nations and paralysed everything but the immediate necessities of the defence of civilisation, a scheme was drawn out m conjunction with the Health Department and the Government actuary and now, at last the long delayed and much needed provision is made by an amendment under the National Provident Act, One Hos-

pital Board, we are told, is not waiting until the time set (by the Act but is at once instituting the scheme for its nurses. It is to be hoped this example will be followed by others. It has been said that private nurses (for (whose sake we consider it is specially needed) will not take advantage m great numbers, of the privileges of the Act, but this we can scarcely believe. Thoughtless and non provident as so many girls are surely when a start has been made for them m a compulsory way while under a Board 's control they will, when free, carry on themselves. The second piece of legislation which greatly affects nurses is the new Nurses and Midwives Eegistration Act. Largely based on the two separate Acts m force since 1901 and 1904 respectively, the new Act makes m three different parts, laws for both branches of the profession. By thus being included m the one Act midwives may feel that' they are more one with the

general trained nurses than m the past. Besides midwives, maternity nurses are also taken m and many trained nurses may probably take that course only, as few, except those 'who hold positions such as matrons of maternity hospitals or nurse inspectors and district nurses require to actually practise midwifery, which implies the delivery of women m confinement without medical aid and supervision. In spite of that the more ambitious of our nurses will wish to be as fully qualified as is possible, and the Act provides for their returning to hospital to complete the full course. It is to be hoped that although so far midwives and maternity nurses who have not gone through a general hospital course, and so have not been placed on the superannuation scheme they may yet be brought into line with general nurses, but the difficulties at present are many. It may be one of the chief tasks of the Board which is constituted under Part I.

of the Registration Act to devise some means by which this may be accomplished. The Nurses' Registration Board is a small body but sufficiently representative. Of the two official members, the Director General of Health and the Director of Nursing, the latter officer has for years carried out the'work. The addition of two trained nurses to be nominated by the Nurses' Association should be of great assistance and we would recommend the Association to select women qualified both as general nurses and midwives for both positions so that the interests of the less numerous body may be safeguarded. It is noteworthy that m thus being enabled by act of Parliament to nominate their representation on the Nurses' Registration Board the Trained Nurses' Association has a definite legal recognition for the first time. In another column the provisions of the Act are fully explained.