Nurses' Memorial Fund

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 4, 1 October 1927, Page 172

Nurses ' Memorial Fund

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS.

The tenth annual meeting of members of the New Zealand Nurses' Memorial Fund was held m the Town Hall, Dunedin. Sir George Fenwick (Vice-Presi-dent) occupied the chair.

The annual report stated that the past year had been somewhat uneventful. The fund's income from investments had slightly increased, owing to the purchase of £500 New Zealand Government securities, and the capital now stood at £21,000, bearing interest at 5j- per cent., yielding £1,100 per annum. But the incidental revenue — subscriptions, donations, etc. — had fallen off, while the expenditure on relief had increased, so that the balance carried forward to next year was less than that brought on from last year. Liberal donations had been received from the women's section at the late Exhibition, the Canterbury, Auckland, and Dunedin Trained Nurses' Associations, from the Wellington branch, and from private individuals. Also, since the accounts for the past year had been closed, a sum of £63 had been received from Auckland, per Mrs. Ethel A. Kidd. The calls on the fund were still increasing. There were 12 annuitants receiving relief on April 1, 1926, on March 31, 1927, there were 15, and further applications were now under consideration. Should they be granted, the fund's income from capital would all be absorbed, and m accordance with Clause 6 of the constitution no further annuity could be granted until a vacancy occurred among the present recipients. During the past 12 months one annuitant had died, one no longer needed help, and five new applications had been granted. The Committee much regretted the death, during the past year, of Mr. T. Chalmer, one of their honorary auditors, and a successor would have to be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. Their President (Sir H. Lindo Ferguson) was now absent from Dunedin, on a visit to the Old Country, and might be expected to return about the end of 1927. Miss Williams, hon. secretary, was also away for the same reason, and Mrs. M. J.

Bundle had very kindly undertaken to carry on the secretarial work during Miss Williams's absence. The Committee desired to express its very sincere thanks to Mr. W. T. Monkman, F.P.A. (N.Z.), honorary auditor to the fund, for his valuable services.. The President, Vice-Pre-sidents, Hon. Secretary, and Hon. Treasurer retired m accordance with Rule 7, and were eligible for re-election.

Sir George Fenwick, m moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said that the fund had now passed its first decade — an event m its history — and the Committee and members had every reason to be gratified at the success which it had achieved. It was not an easy matter nowadays to raise a capital of £21,000, which was a large fund, under the circumstances. When the fund had been originated there could have been no question that the people of Dunedin saw the necessity of such a movement, and not only the people of Dunedin, but those of many other parts of New Zealand, and there had not been a great deal of difficulty, fortunately, m raising very handsome sums from indviduals and bodies of people and thus have the fund established. Unfortunately, however, while the fund was of a substantial nature, he would just like to mention that their income of £1,100 was not adequate to meet what were the legitimate and urgent demands for assistance, and one would like to see the fund increased. He did not think that very much could be done just at present, because the Dominion, unfortunately, was just at present suffering from a wave of depression and there were many other calls on the community. The Committee hoped, however, some day to raise the fund to a large amount so as to enable them to grant assistance to cases that sometimes gave the Committee a good deal of thought. Probably only the Committee knew how urgently assistance was needed on occasions to help nurses who, through old age or other causes, had fallen into impoverished circum-

stances. Their needs, they all felt, should be met, and met very generously. He might add that they had a substantial sum m prospect — £1,000 from the estate of the late Miss McLean, of Timaru. It was a great satisfaction to know that their fund had thus been remembered. As regarded the operations for the year, they had brought forward last year £388 19s. Bd., and this year they were carrying forward £314 12s. 6d., which was a satisfactory state of affairs, showing that they were not spending beyond their income. Mr. James Begg, m seconding the motion, said he thought the Committee could congratulate itself on the present position of the fund. Of the many memorials connected with the war, he did not think there was a liner memorial than theirs. Mr. C. W. Rattray said he did not think it should go out that the fund had come to anything like the size it should reach, because those connected with it knew only too well how limited was the assistance they had been able to give. They knew after all how absolutely trifling the sum was m the great majority of cases, and he thought that point should be stressed. The fund could not be better administered than it was, as the whole cost was only 2 per cent., and he did not suppose anything cheaper or better than that could be achieved m New Zealand. They should never be satisfied that the fund was getting from the people of New Zealand or from the Government the assistance that, to his mind, was undoubtedly its due. The motion was then put and carried. The Chairman added that the Trained Nurses' Association had done its duty, and that it was only right that they should record that fact. Miss Bicknell, Director of Nursing m the Health Department, Wellington, said

she knew from her personal knowledge how much the nurses appreciated the work the Committee was doing — that was the nurses up north — and they were always considering means by which they themselves might add to the fund. She had several ideas on the subject, and she hoped to put them into practice when the present time of depression had passed. She thought that nurses m better circumstances should do their best to help their less fortunate fellow nurses, and she hoped that this might be brought about m the future. She extended her thanks to the Committee for the time and work they were giving to the fund. Office -Bearers. The following office-bearers were appointed : — Patroness, Lady Alice Fergusson ; President, Sir Lindo Ferguson ; Vice-Presidents, Sir George Fenwick and Dr. Wm. Young (Wellington) ; Hon. Secretary, Miss Williams ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. W. Chamberlain; Hon. Auditors, Messrs. W. F. Monkman and J. Greenfield. The local members of the Central Committee are Miss Holford, Miss Lancaster, Messrs. James Begg, C. W. Rattray, and C. Russell Smith (Otago). A vote of thanks was passed to the honorary auditors (Messrs. W. T. Monkman and J. Greenfield). Votes of thanks were also passed to Mr. Chamberlain, Miss Williams and Mrs. Bundle (the acting secretary).

Names of subscribers : — Miss West, Miss N. Bennett, Miss E. M. Taylor, Miss T. Butler, Mrs. Dement, Miss M. E. Gould, M-iss H. E. Mcßeth, Mrs. Hunter, Miss G. Perrin, Miss K. E. Hanson, Miss A. Davey, Miss E. Burrell, Miss G. M. Williams.. Mrs. Angell, Miss K. Gordon, Miss Newman, Miss Hetherington, Miss Barnett, Miss Dew, Miss J. Cranmer, Miss E. Wilson, Mrs. Kendall.