SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION.

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 1 October 1925, Page 170

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION.

Nurses' Superannuation Bill (National Provident Fund). Position of (1) Registered Nurse; and (2) Nurse m Training 1 , m the event of public hospitals instituting private wards. Nurses ' and Midwives ' Registration Bill : — Special Points: The words "or other association or society" in the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Act, Part 1, Section 4, Clause 2 (d), defeats what otherwise would be a most valuable clause, as there is not at present m New Zealand any other body than the N.Z. Trained Nurses' Association that is equally qualified to judge the practical work and arrange the training of nurses and midwives. That, taking Part 111., Section 15, Clause 2, of the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Act to mean that the midwife and maternity nurse are under the ultimate control of the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Board which implies a safe-guarding of their interests, we approve the same and suggest that it might equally apply to the general trained nurse m private practice. It would be a safeguard both to the nurse and to the general public. There is no mention m this Act of supervision of this section of nurses. Resolutions passed: 1. Sub-Centre.— A circle of nurses consisting of less than twenty-five members may form a Sub-Centre of the As-

sociation attached to the nearest branch pending their attaining the full membership of twenty-five necessary to form a branch. 2. Life Members. — May a member of the Association who has given up nursingbecome a life member by paying five guineas ? (a) Non-active nurses — Nurses not actively engaged m the practice of their profession (e.g. married nurses) may become life members on the payment of five guineas; (b) Members [who have paid continuously for twelve years and cease practice may become life members without further payment on application to the Association. 3. That nurses failing to pay their subscriptions for two years cease to be members of the Association. 4. That application by a nurse for membership to any branch whatsoever should be accompanied by a testimonial from the matron of her training* school or an acceptable equivalent. 5. That a letter be sent to the Secretary of the Hospital Boards ' Association asking that the Association would alter the date of National Hospital Day to May 12th as a tribute to the memory of Florence Nightingale, and to disassociate all collections of money from that day. 6. That it is not advisable that country members should pay a reduced fee because the Association stands equally behind the interests of country as well as town members. 7. That Remit 4 be sent as a resolution from the Association to the DirectorGeneral of Health and to the Training

Schools of the Dominion, to read as follows: — "That m view of the possibility of private patients being accommodated m private wards at public hospitals, it should be recommended that registered nurses only must be employed for actual nursing duties to those patients, and that probationers must be trained m these wards. During the sitting Miss Bicknell, Director, Nursing Division, explained the provisions of the new Nurses' and Midwives' Eegistration Bill, a misunderstanding of which had given rise to Remits 7 and 8. Miss Bicknell's explanation may be read on another page. In answer to a question regarding a pamphlet entitled ' * The Management and Aseptic Technique of Labour and the Puerperium," recommended for use m the training of midwives and maternity nurses, Miss Bicknell pointed out these are not regulations but merely recommendations and not compulsory being merely for the general guidance of midwives, and [will be subject to revision from time to time. The Association appreciates that future help will be extended to all nurses and midwives from their direct representation on the newly established Registration Board provided for m the new Act. Remits 3, 5, 7 and 8 were withdrawn. The balance sheet for the Nurses' Journal, "Kai Tiaki," shows how necessary it is to increase the circulation and persuade members to pay their subscriptions promptly. The following officers were appointed for the coming year : — President : Miss Macdonald (Matron, Napier Hospital) ; Vice-Presidents : The Presidents of the Branches; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer: Miss Inglis.