Correspondence to the Editor

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XV, Issue 3, 1 July 1926, Page 129

Correspondence to the Editor

Dear Editor, — In your editorial under the heading "The Diploma of Nursing" (m April issue of "Kai Tiaki" )you state: . . . "the Otago University has gone back on its promise to establish a Diploma Course for Nurses at the University"! This statement is hardly correct. The Otago University has fulfilled every obligation it undertook, and has kept faith with the T.N.A. In our first interview, and every interview following, between the University Council and the T.N.A., the former's attitude was made quite clear.

A Diploma Course m Nursing was established m 1924, where students from the secondary schools who have matriculated may be admitted. At the present time there are two students m their second year and four m their first year (six nurse students), and already more are taking these subjects m the secondary schools, which will be most helpful to them when they link up with the University.

The nurse students come from Canterbury and Otago, and it is hoped when all the secondary schools throughout New Zealand realise that a Diploma Course m Nursing exists we shall be,

like the Domestic Science Faculty, unable to find accommodation for all the students who desire to take the course. The Domestic Science Course began with four students, and each year finds its numbers increasing until now it has to accommodate 106 students. The deepest gratitude of the T.N.A. of New Zealand is due to the University Council for opening its door to our dear old honoured profession and thus assisting to raise the status of nursing ; but it is the nurses themselves w r ho must keep pushing forward, and still forward, m their endeavour to procure the Post Graduate Course, which will necessitate fresh negotiations on a different basis.

The Otago University opened its doors for the nursing profession on the one condition that we could make use cf the facilities which existed, and work m with the other faculties, distinctly understanding that no financial obligations would be incurred by them. On this point there was never any misunderstanding between the University Council and the T.N.A.

The position which has arisen is clearly one of misunderstanding between the Department of Health and the University Council. All honour to

the Health Department who realised that, to bring our University Course up to the standard demanded m other countries where a University Course for Nurses exists, a nursing tutor would be required to be attached to the Otago University. In order to meet this requirement they (the Department of Health) offered to defray all expenses incurred m sending home and having trained Miss Moore, Matron of Hamilton Hospital, to fit her to fill the position. This offer naturally was hailed with delight and enthusiasm by the T.N.A. and acceptable to the University Council. Unfortunately the important question of who was to undertake the financial responsibility of the salary involved m this position was not discussed — each party thinking naturally the other party would do so ! How are we to help to bridge the breach? The present invidious position will surely not be allowed to continue or it will later create difficulties m our Public Hospitals where the University graduates entering for their practical nursing, will hold educational advantages over their tutors m the basic sciences. Surely it is not too much to hope that there are sufficient people interested m the vital question of nursing education to make a united effort to overcome the existing difficulty? Cannot the T.N.A. solicit the cooperation of the medical profession, Health Department and Hospital Boards, and assistance of those two great educational bodies, the Otago University and the Education Department, to tide over the interim until the fees received more than cover the amount required for the tutors' salary? — I am, etc., DIPLOMA. It is well known that the Home Science Faculty is a recognised financial success.

NOTE. — In referring m the April number to the Diploma Course at the Otago University, we were considering the impossibility of a satisfactory course being given without teaching by nurse instructors qualified to undertake

the Course laid down for the sth year. We are glad to learn that the preliminary portion of the course is being carried on.. Whangarei Hospital, June 25th, 1926. Dear Miss Maclean, — I very much appreciate the fact that you wish me to write some impressions of my travels for "Kai Tiaki," but m these days of much travelling, one feels rather diffident about telling one's own individual experiences. However, I shall try to confine my own story to those things which impressed me m the same way they will impress those of your readers who have not journeyed abroad yet, and will serve to remind those more fortunate of some of the places and things they loved. My first vivid impression was of Colombo, as I was still rather too near home to really enjoy Australia. Colombo with all its wealth of colour lent to this sunny land by its vivid blue sky and water, the green palm trees, its many flowers and the garments of the natives. Then the snake charmer with his hideous reptile which obeyed him m a most uncanny way, his magic m making a tree grow where there had been nothing but sand before, a tree with roots well into the ground. But the most wonderful of all to me was the Eastern sunset as seen from the terrace of our hotel, the Eastern sunset with its vivid pink, and the palm trees standing out intensely green against it and gradually outlined m black.

My most definite impression of Egypt was being escorted by numerous and varied natives through the streets of Port Said to my boat. I had bought some brass at a shop, and the shopmen insisted that I should have a man to carry it to the ship. So a huge man m white garment and turban escorted me and the brass, and before long he was joined by another and then another until I soon had a great following. It was rather a relief to see some of my party at the wharf gates.

In the Suez Canal I was lucky enough to see an Egyptian sunset such as I had often seen m pictures. Long, lingering, turning from blue-green to yellow and copper with the native boats standing out against it. Naples did not appeal strongly, but the surroundings! well, of course, one could spend months' full of enjoyment and interest there. We took the combined motor and boat trip. The steamer took us to within a stone's throw of the famous Blue Grotto, and fishing boats took us the rest of the way. To get to the Grotto we had to lie flat m the boat, and the boatmen manoeuvred the very small opening on the crest of a wave — if he were lucky, otherwise the boat swamped. I was got m safely, and the wonder of it when one gained enough courage to look and see!! We seemed to be floating m a great blue opal which changed every moment, yet remained intensely blue. I would willingly risk being half drowned to see it again. The Island of Capri is lovely, but one could not hope to describe it. We stayed one night at Sorrento, and to get to our hotel we landed m a tiny bay and were carried ashore and conveyed to what looked like a robbers' cave, but which turned out to be a very beautiful hotel. From my bedroom window I could look across the bay to Vesuvius. From Sorrento we drove along the Coast through Senalfi, over the mountain road to Pompei. From this road is seen one of the most beautiful glimpses of Italy — the Roman Campanga seen from the heights. Pompei I seemed to know all about from long experience (m books) ; but I should have liked much longer there. My most definite impression of Rome was of the Catacombs with their wonderful history of human endurance for an ideal. One can form no definite idea of the early Christian martyrdom, until one has seen and realised the Catacombs. To us moderns it would, I think, be much easier to die m the arena than to live and endure under these awful conditions. Rome is so full of treasures,

but one comes back again from them all to wonder at the strength of these early Christians. From Rome we wandered to Florence and Venice and Milan, and then to Lake Como, where we rested a while. The treasures and history of the other places left us rather mentally and physically tired, or rather I should say the effort to retain them all, but beautiful Lake Como rested us and gave us back our zest again. We left Como after a week's rest for Switzerland, going through the lakes an\d on to Lucerne; then through to France to make our next stopping place Paris. I am afraid most of my memories of Paris are of the Louvre, and again the Louvre. I could not keep away from it. The Leonardi de Vinci, Mona Lista, had always haunted me, and the reality held me. Then the great Venus de Milo, that wonderful sculptural ideal of perfect womanhood. As compared with the Venus de Medici — the poetical ideal of womanhood — the Venus de Milo is triumphant. The Louvre is so full of things I have always loved that I rather neglected Paris, I am afraid. Does one ever try to tell about London, I cannot. I only know I seem to love every part of it, and I want very much to go back to it. To London every time, to English old churches, ruins, country lanes (particularly Devon m the spring, Devon m the summer, and autumn). To Scotland m the heather time, and to its lakes and rugged coasts any time. I was lucky enough to be motored by friends and relations through England and Scotland, to all the places I had always wanted to see. I had to leave Scotland m the heather time, or the beginning of it, to go to Finland for the Conference. You have been told about Finland far better than I could tell it, but I was impressed with the strength of character and the general leaning to progress of the Fins. From Finland we went to Sweden, Norway and Denmark, where we visited the very up-to-date and efficient hospitals.

On my return to England I took up a course of study m child welfare and psychology — the latter for the better nursing of neurasthenia. I returned through America and Canada so that I could study the methods of hospital administration, so I had no more time for any other impressions. Still I hope, as I said, some of these may serve some of your readers as reminders, and the others as guides, for if one has limited time one must pick out the greatest treasure troves. I hope this is not too long and wordy. Yours sincerly, ALTHEA COOKSON. Dear Editor, — In sending forward the annual report of the Memorial Fund for publication m "Kai Tiaki," may I ask every nurse who is earning and enjoying good health, if she will contribute 1/- a month to this fund? Those nurses who do this (and many put a shilling a month into a special box and then send it annually to Mr. Chamberlain), never miss the shilling and yet they have the satisfaction of knowing that four nurses

doing this contribute not only to the comfort, but actually support entirely for one week a nurse who is unable to carry on her life's work. May I ask every nurse who is enjoying the blessing of health, and who can afford to do so, to help m the above way. I think if some of the annuitants who write such beautiful letters of appreciation to our Committee, would write similar ones to "Kai Tiaki" (not putting their names of course), it would do more to stir the sympathy of our younger nurses, who know not the day when affliction may overtake them, and deprive them of the power of earning. I make this appeal on behalf of our Committee of the N.Z. Nurses' Memorial Fund. — I am, etc., A. H. HOLFORD, St. Helen's Hospital, Dunedin.

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