Annual Conference of the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XXII, Issue 4, 1 November 1929, Page 157

Annual Conference of the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association

Held at the Nurses' Club, Mountain Road, Auckland

The Central Council of the N.Z.T.N.A. met for their annual meeting at the Nurses' Club, Mountain Road, at 2.30 p.m. on October Ist, 1929. Present: — President, Mrs. Tracy fnglis; hon. secretary, Miss Inglis. Delegates from Auckland: Miss Kidd, Miss Bagley, Miss Martyn. Miss Macfarlane. Wangantti: Miss McKenny, Miss Boyce, Miss Living-stone. Otago : Miss Holford. Mrs. Brew. Wellington: Miss Kohn, Miss M. Bagley, Miss Orsman, Miss Burton. Canterbury : Miss Muir, Miss Knight. Taranaki: "Miss Gill. Hawke's Bay: Miss Goldsmith. Gisborne : Miss North. Southland: Miss Keddie (deputy delegate). Nelson: Miss Moore, Miss Lambie (deputy delegate). President's Address. Fellow Members, — It gives me very much pleasure on liehalf of the Auckland Branch to welcome you to this, the Annual Conference of the N.Z. Trained Nurses' Association. In doing so, may I express the hope that our time will be spent with profit and pleasure to all. I have held the office of President of this Branch since 1920, and m this, the last year of my term, I have appreciated the honour of being the X.Z. President. In accepting the position at the last .Conference, I felt that I might have been allowed to retire m favour of some one who had had more recent experience m nursing, but I can assure you all, th;i. during my year of office I have clone all m my power to forward the objects oi our Association. In looking over back records I find that our Central Council was formed m 1909, and I think that m loking back over the last twenty years you will agree with me that it has fulfilled the objects aimed at. May 1 quote from the records of the sec-

ond International Conference, held m the same year that our Council was first formed, to show you how the aims and objects of our nurses have been more or less fulfilled : — "The practice of nursing m the future will not be restricted to a few years of mechanical training m hospital wards, and subsequently to a more or less narrow sphere of influence ; but under a comprehensive curriculum defined by State authority, it will attain a definite value to the community. So much of the moral welfare of the people depends on sanitary conditions, that a nurse who grasps the opportunity should find herself m intimate touch with her fellow creatures. It is not sufficient that she should be the instrument for the relief of suffering, she must be the harbinger of its prevention. Inspired by a fine militant spirit, she will make determined war upon the fundamental wrongs which conduce to low vitality and physical deterioration, and she will appreciate that the beneficent scheme of life is embossed m light and beauty. She will proclaim that health and happiness are synonymous and will teach fearlessly that the well spring of life must be pure, to contaminate it a crime, and that the life-giving elements are the common rights of the community. In the teaching of health laws we shall ourselves enter into the fuller complement of life." I think you will agree with me that many of these objects have been successfully achieved. We have to welcome a new branch at Gisborne, and we are pleased to see that they are represented by Miss North. I regretted very much that I was unable, as your President, to represent you at the International Conference held during the year at Montreal. However, you were represented by Miss Bicknell, Di-

rector of Nursing Services, who made a most efficient delegate. In order that you should be represented by the President, I retired from the chair for three months m order that Miss Bicknell might be appointed as President while attending the Conference. Your Council appointed a delegation to wait on the Hon. the Minister of Public Health to put forward the claims of the Nursing Profession, to have an official delegate appointed to represent New Zealand, and I should like, on your behalf, to express our gratitude to the New Zealand Government for acceding to our request. Miss Bicknell was appointed to represent the New Zealand Government, and your Association was represented by her and Miss McKenny, who had already been appointed our official delegate, and we were very fortunate m securing her services. Needless to- say. we shall all look forward with interest to hearing the report of our delegates, and J will now conclude by asking Atiss Bicknell to give us a brief account of her stewardship m attending the Montreal Conference as representing the New Zealand Government and as President of this Association. Miss Bicknell: Airs. Inglis has asked me to give an account of my stewardship during the three months for which 1 acted as President for the N.Z.T.N.A. In the first place. T should like to stre: ; the importance of our New Zealand delegate to any future meeting of the I.C.N. being appointed President for the time being. Only thus is she entitled to a seat on the Board of Directors, which, as yo; 1 are aware, is the Executive Committee of the 1.C.N., and is composed of the President, two Vice-Presidents, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Presidents of National Associations. The Grand Council consists of the Board of Directors, together with the accredited delegates from each country represented, and is the voting body. I arrived m Montreal at 9.15 a.m. on July 2nd, but was unable to attend the morning session of the first meeting of

the Board of Directors, and thus missed hearing the minutes of the Geneva meeting read.

As it happened, it was at this meeting that the question of admitting passive members was discussed, the definition o\ the term being as follows : — "One National Association for each specialty m nursing composed of nurses fully trained m that specialty may become a passive member of the Council, provided that its constitution and by-laws are m harmony with those of the International Council and that it is affiliated to the Association of Nurses m that country which is already a member of the Council. The passive members will be formed into sections of the Council, each section representing one specialty of nursing. Chairmen of such sections may attend meetings of the Grand Council with voting power, if they are fully trained m general nursing."

The Board of Directors voted that the suggestion should be passed on to the Grand Council with the recommendation that it be not accepted, members feeling that the LC.N. should stand for the fully trained nurse.

The suggestion was passed on to the Grand Council with the recommendation that it be not approved, and that body also decided that the admission of other than fully trained nurses would tend to alter the status and prestige of the LC.N.

The report of the Treasurer was read and discussed. As will be seen by the statement of receipts and payments, there is a very slender balance £(21/8/2), and this is only possible owing to the fact that the Secretary. Miss Reimann, has herself paid the salary of an Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors felt that m order to put its affairs on a more independent and self-respecting basis, the necessary assistance for Miss Reimann, who is already over-burdened with work and responsibility, and whose health is m imminent clanger of breaking down, should be provided by the Council, and a ; promptly as possible.

It was decided that the only possible way to obtain the necessary funds was

to increase the dues, and the matter being referred to the Grand Council, it was unanimously resolved to raise the amount paid by each National Association to 8 American cents per capita, or its equivalent, the money to be paid m sterling-, as the dues are received m London, and a considerable amount of income is at present lost m paying exchange on foreign money. The official journal having* been run at a loss, the Committee on Publications and management of the I.C.N. made the following" recommendations, which were considered separately: — (1) That the annual subscriptions to the I.C.N. be raised to two dollars, or ten Swiss francs, beginning January Ist, 1930.— Adopted. (2) That the Board of Directors appoint a Committee to study the question of forming a Stock Company to float the magazine on a sounder economic basis, or to sue:gest some other means whereby a sum of money may be secured for the same purpose. — Adopted. (3) That inasmuch as our Secretary has stated that it is impossible for her to cary on the double duties at International Headquarters, it is recommended that assistance be provided with the publication of the magazine by January Ist. 1930, if funds can be secured for this purpose. — Adopted. (4) That the Budget and accounts of the I.C.N. should be kept m Geneva and m Swiss francs. Adopted. The name of the "1.C.N." was changed by the Board of Directors to "International Nursing Review." All nurses present were asked to influence the training schools of her country to subscribe to the magazine next year. I think myself it could with advantage be added to every hospital library, for it is most educative m its wide international outlook. The revision of the constitution of the I.C.N. took up a considerable amount of

time. The result will be seen when the amended constitution is published. Reports were received from the various standing committees, and will be embodied m the record of the Conference deliberations. The Education Committee, of which I am a member, had a particularly strenuous time, and its task was made more difficult by the fact that most of its members were on the Board of Directors and the Grand Council, and were not free to attend all its meetings. Its main duty was to try to establish a minimum basis on which to draw up an International curriculum of training. With so many ocuntries of varying sizes and conditions, this was no easy matter, and many hours were spent m trying to work out some scheme adaptable to all. Another task set this Committee was that of defining the term "trained nurse/ as used m the constitution of the LC.N. The same amount of difficult}- was met with here, but after some discussion the following definition was evolved by the Committee, and afterwards accepted by the Grand Council : — "By the term 'Trained Nurse,' used m the Constitution of the LC.N., is meant a nurse who, during her period of training, has received instruction and experience m at least four of the main branches of nursing, always including medical, surgical and children nursing, and who is competent, on graduation, to enter the general practice of nursing and to undertake the fundamental duties and responsibilities which are common to nurses m all the main fields of nursing, including private nursing, hospital nursing and visiting nursing." It was decided to hold the next Conference m Paris and Brussels m 1933, and the following officers were elected for the period 1929-1933:— President, Mdlle. Chaptal (France); Ist Vice-President. Miss Noyes (U.S.A.) ; 2nd Vice-President, Miss Gunn (Canada) ; Secretary, Miss Reimann (Denmark) ; Treasurer, Miss Musson (England),

I think I have given you the gist of the business transacted. There were several minor matters discussed with which I need not trouble you now, as they will no doubt appear m the International Secretary's report on the proceedings. * * ** * The Annual Report and the minutes of the last annual meeting and the report of the Executive Committee of "Kai Tiaki" were then read and approved. Correspondence arising from the last annual meeting and regarding business which has arisen during the year, which the Executive of the Association has dealt with, was then read. This comprised such subjects as the Maternity Nursing Refresher Course, the Nurses' Educational Endowment Fund, the report of the Grace Neill Memorial Fund, Nurses' Superannuation and correspondence dealing with the International Council of Nurses meeting m Montreal m July of this year. The meeting adjourned until 9.30 a.m. next morning. October 2nd, 9.30 a.m. The Council met and proceeded to consider the various remits. "That m order to improve the present practical side of nurses' training, whether general or maternity, the future appointments of Ward Sisters be made from those realising that : (a) The Hospital Nursing Service ; (b) The Responsibility to the Public; (c) The Teaching of Practical Nursing is : ll Her Responsibility." Miss McKenny : "Behind that resolution is the keen desire for the preparation of nurses m 'I [er Responsibility/ bringing this em - phatically forward that teaching service is expected of her. We would like staff nurses to be brought forward m the hospital wards to be trained as future sisters. The sister m a ward has not the time to spend teaching her. There should be a hospital staff nurse." Tt was moved and carried: "That this be placed before the Round Table on Nursing Education,"

"That, as many hospitals are demanding- a fourth year from the student nurse, a proper curriculum should he outlined for this nurse, including- such subjects as: 'Sanatorium Treatment of Tuberculosis,' 'Clinical Welfare' or 'Maternity Nursing*,' 'Nursing of Neuropathic Patients' (the subject to be elective)." Miss McKenny: "A better word than 'demanding-' would be 'requiring.' In some hospitals, I believe that nurses sign on for that period. It is not clone m Wanga-nui. It is optional there. In some hospitals the fourth year is required, and it would seem reasonable that the giving of a fourth year should be recognised by meeting the requirements of the student. Again I should think this would be a good thing for the Round Table." It was moved, seconded and carried : "That this be referred to the Round Table, with the addition of Dietetics. X-ray, and Administration." "T 1 if" •!» "That registered nurses m private practice for two or three years be accepted on the staffs of hospitals for a refresher course of six months as fourth-year nurses." Miss McKenny : "With regard to the Hospital Boards' Conference, they did not turn it down, but thought these matters were within the province of their respective Boards. I think that we should keep our nursing legislation m nursing hands, and the Boards should be offered recommendations, and that as the 8.M.A., we do our nursing legislation ourselves. Registered nurses m private practice for two or three years were accepted for a refresher course m Wanganui. The nurses who accepted that mainly with the view of giving us assistance, were very pleased indeed with results." It was moved and seconded: "That this be referred to the Round Table on Nursing Education for a resolution." Miss Holford : "We, m Dunedin, recommend that these matters should come before the Council

of the T.N.A., and that they forward any resolution to the Hospital Board with the recommendation direct from the Trained Nurses' Association ; that we do not want the Hospital Boards to do our job. We recommend that all matters concerning nurses and nursing education should, before being placed before the Hospital Boards, be referred to our representative on the Hospital Board, so that she might be conversant with all the points of argument m favour of those remits being carried by the Hospital Board. The point brought up was that the remits came before the Hospital Board and the members said they looked all round and there was no one who could enlighten them m any way on the points we had raised. It was not that they were not thoroughly m sympathy, but they did not quite know how to deal with. If we sent them to our own representative, we would get a very much more sympathetic hearing on the Board." Mrs. Kidd: "I would like to point out that the Auckland Hospital Board is taking nurses m their fourth year for this extra period as staff nurses." Miss Holford : "We understood that after the remit was sent m." Salaries : (a) That all organisations employing Public Health Nurses .(not already doing so) should be approached on the subject that when a nurse is appointed, her commencing salary should be a minimum one rising to a maximum. (b) That after a certain number of years' satisfactory service, the then maximum salary of a Public Health Nurse should be raised. — Carried. Miss Lambie : "As regards the first portion of this remit. It is of very great importance to nurses who are employed by the voluntary organisations such as the Red Cross, the Voluntary District Nurses' Association, and it also applies to many of the District Nurses employed by Hospital Boards. A certain number are employed

with salaries rising to a maximum ; some are appointed at a stated salary, and no matter how many years' service, they do not get any increase m salary. The support of this Association behind these nurses would be very valuable. They feel they cannot approach their organisation, as they might be told their services can be done without. "Second portion. Recently m England the Ministry of Health has been considering the remit sent forward to them by the College of Nursing. It has been suggested that the maximum salary should be raised, because m the majority of cases nurses reach their maximum m about four years and have tj go on indefinitely, many giving 10 to 20 years' service at that maximum. It has been suggested at the end of 10 years' satisfactory service the maximum be raised £20. That is a matter that can 'be discussed here." Miss Bagley: "There are cases m the Public Service where, after a period of ten years, a recommendation has been made tor an increase of salary for District Nurses under the Department. If a nurse has reached her maximum, a recommendation can be made that her salary be increased." It was moved, seconded and carried : "That Hospital Boards and every voluntary organisation m the four main centres be circularised. 1 ' Maternity Nursing. "That during the Conference a Committee be set up to study the question of recompense to practising maternity nurses and mid wives who, through no fault of their own, are debarred from work due to some notifiable condition, as is the practice under the English Act." A member : "When a midwife has been debarred from work m order to prevent the spread of infection, through no fault of "her own, she should be entitled to recover something through loss of practice. In New Zealand it is really the Government who closes down the hospital or calls the nurse off duty. Therefore the Government would be the responsible

part}'. It seems rather hard on the nurse who has to cease work through no fault of her own. If she has a hospital, salaries have to go on, and she is at a very great inconvenience." It was moved, seconded and carried: "That a Committee he set up to discuss this, consisting of Misses Holford, M. Bagley and Knight." Miss Holford: "Regarding that point, the Government; takes on itself the responsibility of closing that Institution for the sake of the community. Therefore it denies that nurse and makes her take on herself the whole responsibility for protecting the public. Dunedin has very much pleasure m supporting that remit." "That a Committee be set up to outline the opportunities now offered within the nursing profession, and that this Committee shall then place these before the Head Mistress of the various Secondary Schools, m Xew Zealand." Miss Lambie : "We had heard of various girls' colleges m Wellington Province who had strongly advised girls attending those schools not to enter the nursing profession. It had also been stated that we had been rather apt to decry our profession and say the salaries are low. The present day girl does think of her future and what remuneration she is going to get. If you consider the salaries of a Sister m the average hospital and a Public Health nurse, they compare very favourably indeed with that of the teacher m the primary school, and many of the junior positions m the secondary schools. Therefore we thought it would be advisable if some scheme be brought forward to put before the Head Mistresses, showing the branches and average salary appertaining to that branch. Sister Lewis comes m contact with many girls m Wellington, and she told me she considered it would be invaluable. Many girls had no idea of how many branches of nursing there are, and the very wide scope it gives to girls. A tremendous number of girls are going to the Dental Nursing Service/

Airs. Kidd: "The Auckland Hospital Auxiliary have tried to do propaganda work. We have arranged visits to secondary schools, and talk over the wireless is one of the projects. Miss Holford: "We have what is called a Florence Nightingale week. Dunedin Hospital sets itself out during that week to interest many of the secondary schools as much as possible by notifying the Head Mistress of the school to select so many of her pupils to attend an hour or two at the hospital. They are taken all over the hospital and given afternoon tea. Everything is made attractive and shown to them as nicely as possible. The nearest Sunday to Florence Nightingale's birthday is called 'Florence Nightingale's Birthday Sunday.' and the churches lay themselves out on that day to have the services for the nurses. In the Knox Church the service was held on the Sunday night and nurses from all hospitals go m their indoor uniforms. Dr. Thompson of the hospital was m the pulpit with the Minister, and he also gave an address and all the secondary schools were notified to send as many as they could m uniform." It was moved, seconded and carried: "That the following Committee be set up to consider the positions now offering within the nursing profession, and that that Committee should communicate with the Head Mistresses' Association." Mi>. s McKenny, Miss Muir, Miss Moore. Miss Keckly. Mrs. Kidd. MissBoyce. A member: "In connection with the first section of Remit 5 (a). This remit does not apply to the nurse m training or the nurse m Hospital Board employ, it refers to the nurse m private practice. What we want is that the Government should subsidise a nurse's contribution to the National Provident Fund after she has left the Government as they subsidise the salary of those people m Government service. They get a compensation of £60 when they reach the age of 60 years. This would mean that a nurse

would get a larger compensation than £60 when she retires. It will mean the setting up of a Committee to approach the Government about this, and a great deal of propaganda amongst Members of Parliament and the general public, but it is certainly necessary that something should be done to help nurses m private practice. £60 would not keep anybody m their old age." "With regard to the superannuation of nurses m training, that this matter be more closely looked into, and if possible. the nurse be compelled to remain m the fund for eighteen months after the completion of her training or resignation from the Board." "I understand that this is the remit which we wish to delete. The reason of that is that the Hospital Boards are not m a position to carry the nurses for eighteen months/ Mrs. Kidd: "I think it is very desirable that something should be done to compel nurses to remain m the fund. While the nurse is m hospital, the Board has been put to the expense of paying her subsidy, and it is the young nurse who does not look to the future who draws out the sum of money and spends it. Probably by the time the eighteen months have elapsed she has taken up another hospital appointment. It is a very weak link ; young nurses can draw out ; and we should do something." It was decided to delete 14. It was moved and seconded : "That the following Committee be set up to deal with 5 (a) — Miss McKenny, Miss Kohn, Miss Holford, Miss Muir, Miss Lambie." "The Committee to form a deputation to wait on the Hon. Minister of Health, and also the Minister m charge of the National Provident Fund." POST-GRADUATE STUDY"That the T.N.A. interest itself m promoting 'Post-Graduate* study for practising maternity nurses and midwives, and approach the Department of Health to institute a recognised short course." Miss Bagley : "We have already m St. Helen's had

a Refresher Course for those who wish to take it." Miss Lambie : "When this remit was originally drawn up, the present course which is being' held, had not been mooted. I was present at the meeting when this remit was discussed. It was felt at the time it was necessary for the benefit of midwives and maternity nurses who had not trained for some years, that they should have a practical refresher course at the Midwifery Training Hospitals where that technique is being cari/ied out. The refresher can best be carried out where the actual patient is being nursed. They would get a refresher m antenatal work with the actual patient." Miss Bicknell : "In Christchurch St. Helen's they arrange to take one nurse even- month for a refresher course every year. They have been doing that for a year or two. In Dunedin we have never refused one. If a nurse wants to take a position m a Training School for maternity nursing to get an insight into newer methods, I send her for a month to Wellington St. Helen's. This has been the policy of the Department for years past; we have m every possible way encouraged nurses to go back for a refresher course. They are also very useful m helping the staff. "■ It was moved, seconded and carried : "That the Government be approached by the Trained Nurses' Association to ask them to give the same concessions to nurses attending a refresher course at St. Helen's as the Plunket Society are giving to those nurses attending a refresher course." Training m Private Hospitals. It was agreed: "That the X.Z.T.N.A. on behalf of the public and m the interest of the profession of nursing, request the Registration Board not to allow Private Hospitals to register as training schools for nurses." Miss Holford asked if Miss Bicknell would say how it would affect our nurses m New Zealand. Miss Bicknell: "There is the question of our recipro-

city with other countries. It has sometimes been said by the supporters of such training that it is unfair to admit nurses who have been trained m Private Hospitals m other countries to our register and refuse to allow Xew Zealanders to qualify m this way. This is not the case. There is not a single nurse on our register who has been trained m a Private Hospital m another country. While m Montreal I took the opportunity of asking the Chairman of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales what effect, if an}', the recognition of this training would have on our reciprocal agreement with Great Britain. She replied: "If you allow such institutions to train m your country the whole question of reciprocity would have to be revised." Australia has for many years accepted private hospital training, but we have never recognised such nurses even when they have undergone a period of five years' training." * * * * It was moved, seconded and carried : "That throughout a nurse's general training more opportunity be given the student nurse to personally nurse and record special cases ; m medical ward, m surgical ward, m children's ward, m infectious diseases ward; thus introducing case method similar to the Midwifery Training Schools," be sent as a recommendation to the Matrons' Council. "That efforts be made by the N.Z. T.N.A. to influence first, public interest; second. Hospital Boards' interest m the School of Nursing as an educational section of the hospital." Miss Moore : "This could be covered by the active Educational Committee, but we feel that the Hospital Boards do not recognise it as an educational centre. More attention should be paid to it as an educational unit, and not only for its nursing service to the community," Mrs. Kidd: "I would like to support Miss Moore. I feel very much as a Board member the attitude of the members who do not sec that aspect. I think it is a very import-

ant one, and the Trained Nurses' Association should lose no opportunity of bringing it forward." Miss Lambie : "The public do not realise that it is a school. A leading educational authority m speaking recently said he had no idea that there was a school within the hospital, and he did not realise that the hospital is a school as well as a means of giving service to the public. If a man m his position — m contact with all the educational bodies of New Zealand — does not realise that the hospital is a school, it very definitely proves that the general public do not realise it either." Miss McKenny : "It harks back to educating the public. It is a matter of propaganda." It was moved, seconded and carried: "That m each of the centres an active Educational Committee be set up within the Association, to stimulate interest m other educational bodies." Miss Bagley: That is a reiteration of the resolution passed at the Dunedin Conference. I would like a report to be taken now. from the delegates from all the branches, as to what action was taken as a result of that resolution from last conference." Wellington and Dunedin reported having set up an Educational Committee. Auckland started but did not get very far. Wanganui also started. No others had taken any steps. Miss Muir : "It is not an easy matter. It was so much easier for Wellington to set up this Committee on account of the Post Graduate School. It is difficult to set it up everywhere." Miss Lambie : "In connection with the Public Health section m Wellington, I do not think the entire movement has been promoted by the Post Graduate Course. We have a committee of seven. A monthly lunch is held at the Y.W.C.A. and each member of the committee is responsible for the organisation of that lunch. When we started two years ago we did not always have a meeting o f t j le Committee prior to that lunch, but this year we found it

was necessary. I do not want you to think it was my work. Every member has done her share." * * * * "That, m view of the fact that medical progress has multiplied nursing duties, less time be devoted to routine unskilled work m the second and third year of a -nurse's training, and thus more time be spent on professional bed-side tuition to the student nurse." Miss Moore : "In Wellington the Education Committee set about obtaining information as to how much time during the nurse's training was spent m unskilled work. She is being considerably exploited. In some of our hospitals she is spending twothirds of her time m unskilled work % If she has to spend her first year m unskilled work, the second and third should be devoted to her profession. It means a matter of readjustment of labour m hospital. and we must have added trained supervision. When you look at it m the long run it is going to give a better return of nursing service. The pupil nurse leaves without the full value of that training which she should have. She gives eight hours of her day m service to the hospital, and m many of our hospitals she has given 5,192 hours during her three years m unskilled work, and they are only giving her 180 hours m theory, and some are even worse than that. Each one of you should have a copy of the Educational Committee's report." It was decided that the above remit be sent as a recommendation to the Nurses' and Midwives 5 Registration Board, with the suggestion that it be transmitted to the Hospital Boards. "That, throughout the nurse's training, periodic personal health examinations be made, thus using the nurse herself as a lesson m preventive medicine." Miss Moore : "Each nurse, on entering hospital, should have a good health sheet, and should come up for periodic examination and keep her own chart. Some are willing to come forward and complain, and those who should come forward do not,

and we do not know anything about it until it has reached a very serious stage." It was moved, seconded and carried: "That this recommendation be forwarded to the Matrons' Council." Miss Muir : "It may be of interest to know that Christchurch has instituted a bi-annual medical examination for the whole of their staff; a preliminary medical examination and then a bi-annual." Miss Goldsmith : "That is also carried out m Napier Hospital." * * ♦ * "That, to enable the nurse to think for herself and accept personal responsibilty, the establishment of Student Council, Student Government, or some form of student co-operation, be considered." Miss Moore : "Certain professors say they could not get anywhere with their students if they did not manage themselves. I feel that we could elicit the student nurses' responsibility m the Nurses' Home, and give them that responsibility. It is done with the students m the Dental School. They have to take the leadership of their group and arrange everything concerning it, and only those within the group know what is going on. They would accept the responsibility and be interested m it." It was moved, seconded and carried: "That some form of student co-operation be introduced into the home with our student nurses ; this to be sent as a recommendation to the Matrons' Council." Miss McKenny : "I made some enquiry about this m Montreal at the large hospitals, and on this subject there is a very divided opinion. I came to the conclusion that it required good leadership. Those who established it must have a very strong and high opinion of it, and m fact, be good leaders. On the whole, ray own conclusion is that it is an excellent thing, but needs very careful watching. Those who were against it said it led to very serious, results without very excellent supervision and care. I think, perhaps,

they did not always get the best type of student. There is no doubt about the great value of it. Practice m managing" their own affairs and responsibility to each other and for each other is of great value. I should certainly think establishment of Student Councils is very desirable indeed." Miss Moore : "I came m contact with Miss Gunn, Lady Superintendent of Toronto Hospital. She felt it was quite a big thing. She is an able leader and found it advantageous, f have a copy of the by-laws if anyone would like a copy. In Copenhagen they found it very satisfactory indeed. It is the only way we can get to know the little things that are going on within the circle. The Lady Superintendent always goes into ever)- detail of it, and they tell me their punishment is more severe than anything levied by the Lady Superintendent." * * * * "That a nurse be attached to all V.D. clinics for special follow-up work m connection with women and children ; where possible, preference being given to a nurse with special experience m this direction." Miss Holford: "This came up last year and was carried at our Conference, but as far as we know there was not very much done. It was felt that the V.D.'s do not get the following up attention that is necessary. When one considers the seriousness of their condition, one feels that they should be followed up more on the lines of the T.B. cases." Miss Lambie : "In going through the annual report of the Health Department which has just been published, the number of patients attending m Christchurch is three times as many as the number of patients either at Auckland, Wellington or Dunedin. At Christchurch the number was 7<SO for syphilis, and 2,000 for gonorrhea; Auckland 300 for syphilis and 400 to 500 for gonorrhea. It definitely shows that where you have a nurse attached to the clinic, she plays a very important part

indeed m obtaining their attendance at the clinic and keeping their interest. Treatment goes on over a very long time. In Wellington where there was no nurse, Dr. Aldred told me he found very great difficulty m keeping women's attention. The Women's National Council is very much interested m this matter." Airs. Kidd; '"Are there no women doctors attached to the clinic m other centres?" Miss Lambie : "No, but I understand at the last meeting of the Board of Health a committee has been set up to make an exhaustive enquiry, and a proposal was made at that meeting that women doctors should he attached to the women's clinic for attention to women patients/ Miss Muir : "This is a branch of the nursing work that I feel very strongly about indeed. First of all, getting suitable nurses to take part is important. She must be a woman who is sympathetic and realises the far-reaching influence of the young girl and her walk m life. In Christchurch we have venereal diseases clinics and we have a nurse. The first one was with us for two or three years and she did very good work. When she left, the applications T got were unsuitable. Dr. Fox and myself decided to make it a branch of the out-patients, and to give to the stafY nurse the work of the clinic, and I put m whom I considered would be a suitable staff nurse for outpatient work. I would like you to realise the prejudice amongst nurses against nursing venereal disease. The treatment of venereal disease is not any different from ordinary treatment. Putting m a staff nurse has been most successful. She is kindly, sympathetic and bright. She gets the confidence of the young girl, and I go out sometimes and have a chat. She is giving every help. She did not realise' its importance until she had been carrying out the treatment for some little time." Miss McKennv : "I would like to support what Miss Muir says,"

M iss ( ioldsmith : "We should put that aspect to all nurses through 'Kai Tiaki. J ' It was moved, seconded and carried: "That this proposal be sent to the Hoard of Health, and to the matrons of all Training Schools.'* Airs. Kidd: "I support Miss Lambie. There is a movement m this direction, and it should strengthen the Board of Health if we do so." 3rd October, 1929, 9.30 a.m. The following letter was received from Hamilton : "A meeting of Trained Nurses was held m Hamilton on Friday afternoon last with the idea of forming a branch of the Xew Zealand Trained Nurses' Association. As 32 expressed themselves prepared to join the Association, I am writing to ask if you will accept us as a branch of the Xew Zealand Trained Nurses' Association?" A. D. KEDDIE. Miss Holford moved, and Miss Moore seconded : "That they be accepted as a branch."- — Carried. Miss Holford moved and Miss Knight seconded: "That 'Kai Tiaki' be printed two-monthly m cheaper and smaller form, and that, if found necessary, to raise subscriptions to the Journal, the increase be quite apart from subscriptions to Association." Miss Inglis read letters from the publishers of the Journal explaining the financial position and prospects. Miss McKenny : "I have prepared an article knowing, of course, something of the tribulations of our Journal. I visited an editor who has a very large circulation — 46,000 — the biggest circulation m the world for a Nursing Journal. It has been put up from about half that amount by propaganda work. After visiting her, T felt convinced that propaganda was needed." (This article will appear m a future issue, — Ed. |

M iss Moore : "J would like to take this opportunity, as one who has been rather m close contact with your Editor for some two years now. watching her m her work concerning our Journal, and I have been very much impressed with her aloneness m it. She is now getting on m years. She has been Edjtor for 21 years, day after day, month after month, seeking to obtain information to give you all she possibly can m that Journal, and I feel that the Journal, as it is to-day, is the outcome of one woman's work and not the outcome of the X.Z. Nurses' efforts. I have seen how she goes out and tries to get material. She sends out a circular to our Branch Association, and it is forgotten, and after the paper has gone to the printer, then will come m these papers, and the 'branches are injured because they are not included. Then material is sent m m an unbusinesslike way which gives her a lot of work to sort it out properly and put it into order to go forward to the printers.- I feel that we have not supported our Journal or our Editor as we should have done. Hospitals are breaking away and are seeking to establish journals of their own. Those hospitals should contribute to the Journal and have a page m it. Our own PostGraduate students are anxious to keep m touch, and therefore we have advised that they have one page m *Kai Tiaki.' We could make it so that the nurses would not want to be without it, as it would be such a help to them. We have to think of the future of our Journal, and there is no one being trained to help and support the Editor m this matter." Mrs. Kidd: "Members do forget the Journal. I feel that some means should be devised by which we could get nurses to take it ; perhaps we could reduce our fees. After all, secondary schools compel their pupils to take their journal." Miss Muir: "Would it not be advisable for each branch of the Association to assist the Editor? Each branch appoints its own secretary, and she could collect the subscriptions for that branch of the Associa.-

tion; also gather up the news or items of interest regarding' that section, and let that be our first step towards helping the Editor m her tremendous task, as outlined by Miss Moore." Miss Lambie: "I would like to support Miss Muir. When I was m Christchurch, it was so very much easier to pay your fee locally than to send it. I have moved about Xew Zealand and talked to various nurses, and am sure the majority I have spoken to would find it very much easier to pay their fee to the person they know on the spot than get a money order and post it to Wellington." Miss McKenny : "Might T suggest secretaries of the branches receiving? She is known to the nurse. She is more or less a permanent agent. I think any secretary would be generous enough to help by receiving and despatching subscriptions." Miss Orsman : "I would suggest that as each subscription becomes due, the nurse be circularised and given a certain time to pay it. Many nurses forget that the subscription is due." Miss Inglis : "During this last year Miss Allen has kept the list very carefully, and when a nurses subscription was due she put m a slip: 'Subscription now dve — this is the last Journal you will receive.' ' Miss Kohn : "Could we not follow the example of the B.M.A. m this matter?. Members pay one subscription to the Association and receive their journal free. T think this would clear the difficulty up and ensure the financial position of "Kai Tiaki." Miss Inglis: "I would like to say that the publisher told me if you add-4/6 to the subscription and leave matters as they are. it will not cover the cost." Miss Bagley : "Do I understand that by the addition of 4/6 to the present fee. the cost of a two-monthly issue would not be covered?"

Miss Inglis: "Not unless the two subscriptions are combined." Miss Bagley : "It seems to me that we do require m each Branch some active effort on behalf of the Journal. It is not only the matter of collecting fees, but if each Branch made a point of appointing somebody, not necessarily the secretary, to do all the ( Kai Tiaki' work, and whether we combine the subscription with the membership or not, 'Kai Tiaki' would be attended to. Other things are necessary from the Branches besides the collection of fees." Miss Holford : tl lf subscriptions have to be raised, I would suggest that that increase be quite apart-from the subscriptions to the Association and that we keep the two absolutely separate. We recognise the lack of interest on the part of nurses. If the nurse does not take interest m the Journal to-day, she is not going to take interest m the Association." Miss Bicknell: "I think it would save a tremendous lot of worry to those collecting to combine the two. I think when a nurse became accustomed to it, she would prefer it. Is £1/1/- the absolute minimum that can be charged? It seems to me that we ought to make a very great effort to get our Journal published two-monthly. It seems as if nurses m Xew Zealand are not doing all they might. "In connection with propaganda, I think myself that if all nurses were circularised when they passed their State examination, it would have some result. I am quite prepared to furnish a list of all nurses. I think you would probably secure them, especially if the Matron, before they left the Hospital, were to speakto them about the advantages of joining the Association and of subscribing to 'Kai Tiaki.' " Miss North: "May I. as a member of a small Council, just state what was brought up at the Council meeting? The Council was very much against the raising of the i\/\/- subscription. We feel we would

be sacrificing our Association for 'Kai Tiaki.' Not that we were not willing to pay our 1/1/-, but it was for the sake of getting young nurses to join our Association, so we felt very strongly about it as a young branch." Miss Kohn: "While we are on the subject of the 'Kai Tiaki,' could this Council nor formulate some plan m which every qualified nurse will join the Association. The Association membership should be as much a point to reach as their registration. It is terrible to think we have 8000 qualified women m and out of the country and only 1500 m the Association. The time has come when this Central Council should formulate a plan that they must come m. It is the objective of every qualified man to have his name on the B.M.A. Why should that not be the objective of the nurse. It is for this Council to settle that point/ Miss Lambie : *T would like to support Miss Kohn very heartily m this matter, and would like to suggest that before the Council is dismissed that the matter of an amendment to our constitution should be discussed." Miss Bicknell: "I have a proposition to make — you can take it for what it is worth. I think that as the opinion is so divided as to this question of combining the two subscriptions it might be as well to dispose of the position till next year. I think the main thing is to raise the Association membership, the other will follow. We must get them when the}- are first leaving the hospital and point out to them what is expected of them. We do want a live membership, and if we have a live membership, I think 'Kai Tiaki' will follow." Miss Muir : "Might I make this suggestion — that each of our branches try and stimulate to the best of its ability, not only interest m our Association matters, but also interest m the Journal and to enlarge its circulation, and that each branch when

we meet m Conference this time next year, bring forward a report on what we have accomplished, and where we have failed or why we have failed. We can have everything" on the table. The whole position can be reviewed this time next year. I propose that the question of combining 'Kai Tiaki' and Association stand over for another year to see if we cannot possibly do our work a little better than we have done." Miss Lambie moved and Miss McKenny seconded and carried: "That 'Kai Tiaki' be published m two monthly form without' reducing- its quality; that the subscription should be raised to 10/6, and that the fee for the Journal should be a uniform one and separate from the Association subscription,' each branch to undertake the collection of the 'Kai Tiaki' subscription as well as the Association subscription, and to be responsible for any deficiency during- this coming year, the position to be reviewed at the next Annual Meeting." Miss Muir proposed and Miss Moore seconded: "That each branch be responsible for stimulating interest m Association matters, and m the Nursing Journal, and increasing their membership and the circulation of the Nursing Journal, and that a report of their activities, their successes, their failures, and the reasons be reported to next Central Council." — Carried. Mrs. Tracy Inglis : "Do not you think if we appoint a Special Committee, the}' could go into the business details of 'Kai Tiaki? 1 Tt was moved, seconded and carried: "That we form a Committee to go into the question of the details of 'Kai Tiaki' affairs. — Mrs. Kidd, Miss Moore. Miss McKenny, Miss Inglis, Miss Muir." Miss Kohn : "We formed an executive last year to go into the matter of 'Kai Tiaki,' but I notice that everything that was recommended by that body of business men as w T ell as women has been wiped off the table. Forming these Committees does not get us very far."

Remit 24: "That m the event of the annual subscriptions to the Association and 'Kai Tiaki' being combined and increased to one guinea, the entrance fee 10/6 be abolished." — Lapsed. "That some definite steps be taken to collect outstanding subscriptions." Miss Holford: "I think that is covered by what we have already done this morning as Miss Muir proposed." Miss Ingiis : "If any of you wish information about the subscribers m your district to 4 Kai Tiaki,' Miss Allen will furnish the lists of names and addresses. It is important to know Christian names/ * * * * "That m view of the success of the Education Department's system of exchange between its own teachers and those overseas, and recognising the advantages accruing therefrom, the Conference be asked to enquire into the feasibility of establishing a similar system of exchange within the various units of the nursing profession/ Miss Holford: "There is little I can say about this, but we did feel that as our nurses now move about more, it might be possible for the nurses from our Xew Zealand institutions to be granted the privilege of visiting other hospitals and doing work (here, and similar reciprocity might be considered at some of the hospitals at Home. We have not made any enquiries into whether it is possible or not. A nurse may be able to pay her passage to England, but she does not get into the workings of the institutions at Home. By interchanging like the teachers do. we might broaden our outlook here." Miss Lambie : "I was very much interested when I saw this remit, because when I was out of Xew Zealand I made several enquiries about it. Toronto Public Health Nurses were extremely interested, and nurses there would like to come on exchange to Xew Zealand, and our nurses would like lo go there. In regard to the teachers' exchange: a Xew Zealand teacher going

to Canada or England on exchange remains on the salary list of the Education Board by whom she is employed, and is still a member of that organisaton. She pays her own travelling expenses and she receives her salary while she is m Canada. I do feel that it would be of tremendous interest. I think the Association or the Registrar of Nurses would have to be asked to see that the nurses who do go on exchange should be selected." Miss Moore : "In England the College of Nursing, Ltd.. which works m conjunction with the Red Cross would be a suitable body to approach. A nurse would then get into the right circle where she would get the right opportunities." Miss Bagley : "It would seem that our first difficulty is to discover which would be the correct supervisory body m our own country." Miss Lambie : "I think we should not put this matter m the hands of a Minister. We have a National Executive of the Association. Would not the National Executive of our own Association act as the advisory body? Then we have no political element at all." Miss McKenny : "How do you get over the difficult}' of the absence from the Hospital?" Miss Lambie : "A teacher travels m her holidays as a rule. She reaches here at the completion of the school' holidays all ready to take up at the beginning of the next term. That is being done as regards exchange with England. There are quite a number of teachers from the London County School who have come out on exchange." Miss Bagley: "About the replacing of the nurses on the hospital staff on each side ; this would be less easy than the replacement of the school teachers ; they have a long school vacation." Miss Lambie : "In regard to England, she would probably miss two or three weeks. If a nurse

is ill, the hospital has to carry on without her. The nurses' holiday is four weeks ; she could have an extra week without pay." Miss Bagley : "Probably no Hospital Board would object to the inconvenience or the slight additional expense incurred m the exchange." Miss Muir: "I would suggest that information be obtained from the different centres where there is possibility of exchange along the lines suggested by the Otago branch, and the matter be brought up at the next Conference ; that the Executive of this Council gets what information possible from the centres/ Miss Holford: "It was really only that we recognise the great advantage that accrues to the members of any profession by this interchange of members from one country to another, and we brought this forward Tor a ruling. We feel that the nursing profession must go ahead, and we all have to have a start. It might be years before we materialise it, but we want to bring this as a progressive movement before the members of the Association." It was moved, seconded and carried: "That this meeting express approval of this remit m recognition of the advantages that would accrue." Miss Muir moved, and Miss Moore seconded, as an amendment: "That the Executive of the Association gets m touch with organisations m other countries with a view to ascertaining whether they would be m sympathy with an interchange of nurses, and obtain their views on the subject." — Carried. # * * * "That Branch Councils should, on suitable occasions, draw attention to the need on the part of the public for still more improved midwifery service, pointing out that more double qualified nurses should seek efficiency m this branch for the purpose of maintaining the ranks of matrons, sub-matrons, and training sisters m Obstetric Hospitals — such positions being worthy of the best nurses and offering

larger scope, better salaries, and improved conditions m the future." A member: "It is becoming a very difficult matter to maintain the ranks with interested and suitable nurses. The remit would seem to suggest that salaries may be the trouble. There is not really a more responsible position m the whole nursing world than a matron of an Obstetric Hospital, which is a training school. The position is difficult enough with a bed state of 12. With a bed state of more, the responsibilities and difficulties increase. Perhaps the reasons why the positions m the first place are so exceedingly difficult m New Zealand, are the unsuitable buildings which were established as hospitals m the beginning. All our institutions are suffering from lack of sufficient staff accommodation and that is the root matter. lam afraid that we as an Association cannot successfully deal with this except recommend that the Department should increase the salaries of matrons, sub-matrons and responsible sisters at St. Helen's Hospital. The Department is so alive to the need for better buildings and better staff accommodation, that there is no need to send any message to it from the Association. It is a matter for Cabinet. Cabinet is taking up the matter this session. We can only await their decision. All that this Association can do, as far as I can see, at present, if the Council thinks it suitable, is to make some recommendation m the way of improving salaries." Airs. Kidd moved, and Miss Holford seconded: "That the remit be put as it stands." This was discussed m connection with the subject of discussion concerning salaries, the result of which was that the Department of Health was to be approached. * * * # Mrs. Kidd moved, no seconder: "That m view of the cheap, convenient transit offered by service car, the Government be approached with a request for a reduction m fares for nurses travelling by train, either to cases or on holiday." — Lapsed.

"That private nurses on infectious cases m hospitals or schools should not expect more than four guineas if doing* only eight hours duty." Mrs. Kidd moved, and Miss Me Kenny seconded: "That the Council approve of £4/4/- rate." — Carried. It was moved, seconded and carried: "That it is advisable to publish reports of branch General Meetings m 'Kai Tiaki' for the convenience of members unable to attend such meetings." It was moved, seconded and carried : "That a certificate as well as a receipt be issued to those joining the Association as Life Members." It was moved, seconded and carried : "That established new treatments of diseases be fully described and published m 'Kai Tiaki' for the benefit and help of private nurses." SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION. October 4th. "That there be a review of the salaries of nurses m Public Hospitals and of Public Health Nurses m general, and that a set standard be presented to Hospital Boards and those employing Public Health Nurses." A member: "I have here a scheme which the College of Nursing outlined recommending the minimum salaries for all nurses' positions. This is a suggested salary scheme which could be circularised amongst the various people employing nurses as a whole. We cannot lay down rules as to what people pay. It is only a proposal to guide them as to salaries that are suitable." Miss Muir: "It would require a great deal of thought and consideration and work, and a Committee should 'be set up to go into the matter very carefully along the lines indicated." Miss Bagley : "It could not be covered by this Conference." Mrs. Kidd: "The Hospital Hoards' Association spent an evening j n trying to adjust salaries, and one realised how hopelessly

at sea we were. We really got nowhere. If something like this was done it would be a great help." Miss McKenny: lt l would suggest a comparison and revision of salaries. Some overseas salaries are much higher." .Miss Muir moved, and Miss McKenny seconded : "That the Association approach the Health Department recommending the revision of the salaries of all nursing services." — Carried. "The regrading of nurses m the Civil Service." A Wellington member: "This question was brought up at a meeting of the Wellington branch. This year is a regrading year m the Civil Service. It only happens every five years. There are three divisions—professional, clerical and general." Miss Hoi ford: "Alight I say all the years 1 was m St. Helen's 1 hammered with letter after letter for grading m Professional Dision, and every time the Commissioner came to Dunedin I interviewed him. He said: 'We might grant it to you and Miss Gow for your length of service, and all the others would be up against it.' They pigeon-holed many communications which I sent them not only for myself but from every matron and sub-matron of St. Helen's, and every time the Commissioner has come down he has said that he would consider it when he got back to Wellington. That is where it ended." Miss Muir : "What about a deputation to the Commissioner?" Miss Muir moved and Miss Goldsmith seconded: "That a deputation be sent to the Minister of Health and the Public Service Commissioner — Miss Kohn. Miss Cookson, Miss Holford. Miss Inglis." Carried. "The need for a survey of the position of nurses m New Zealand. Apparently the suoply exceeds the demand." Miss Moore : l T do not think it would do any harm during this coming year to ascertain how we stand so that we may have an under-

standing as to our position. We are going to make the branches more active. Could not each ascertain the position?" It was moved, seconded and carried : "That the position of nurses m New Zealand he investigated as regards employment." # * # * "The remuneration of a midwife as compared with that of a maternity nurse." Miss Inglis : "Our rules are that the scale of fees as drawn up must be adhered to, and nurses are not permitted to charge more than that shown. Would it be possible to allow a general trained midwife to charge another guinea a week?" Miss Lam'bie : "I think a mistake was made when we allowed the maternity nurse to charge £4/4/- the same as the midwife. This has been done and }-ou cannot undo it. When a midwife takes charge of the whole case her only additional remuneration for this tremendous responsibility is £i/i/-: ? Miss M. Bagley: "I agree with Miss Lambie that as the salary for the maternity nurse was made the same as the midwifery nurse. I can see no way at the present time of altering this." — Lapsed. * * * * "The best way of dealing with nurses visiting other centres for short period." Miss Kohn moved, and Mrs. Kidd seconded: "That we have a membership card printed, and on it columns for arrival and departure, which would be a record of the nurse's movements." — Carried. "Reduction of yearly bureau fee from £1/1/- to 15/-." Miss Gill : "Taranaki only pay 7/6. There is no residential club there." Miss Inglis : "Auckland fee is £1/1/-." Christchurch — no residential club. Napier.— £l/1/-. Wanganui,—No residential club,

Dunedin. — No residential club, but bureau fee is £1/1/-. Miss Bagley moved, and Mrs. Kidd seconded: "That the fee be not reduced." —Carried. PLACE OF NEXT CONFERENCE. Miss Muir; "Christchurch would be very pleased indeed to welcome the Conference m that city m 1930." APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. Miss Gill moved, and Miss Hoi ford seconded : "That Miss Muir be nominated as President." — Carried. Mrs. Kidd moved, and Miss Keddie seconded: "That Miss Inglis continue as Secretary for the Central Council. "- Carried. APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE IN WELLINGTON. Miss Holford moved, and Mrs. Kidd seconded: "That President of the Wellington Branch, and Miss Willis, Miss McKenny, Miss Lambie, Miss Inglis form our Advisory Board."— Carried. SUB-COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO GO INTO "KAI TIAKL" Miss Muir : "The Committee recommended that clerical assistance be obtained for the Editor of 'Kai Tiaki.' working for as many hours per week as required by the Editor. Miss Allen, who assists with the wrappers have a fee of £15/15/- for the year, salaries to be reconsidered at the end of the year. The Committee outlined four rules for the contributors :■ — "That they write only on one side of the paper ; "That any report on a social function should be personally reported by correspondents who should not send just the clipping from the paper; "When forwarding personal items regarding engagements, marriages, etc., the names of both parties should be sent ; "Descriptions of new treatments and procedures are valuable contributions to the Journal,"

Executive : Miss Willis, .Miss McKenny, Miss Moore, President of the Wellington Branch, Miss Brandon, Miss Inglis. Moved by Miss Lambie, and seconded by Miss Muir. — Carried. SUB-COMMITTEE ON SUPERANNUATION. Miss McKenny reported that a Committee consisting of Miss McKenny, Miss Kohn and Miss Lambie are to consult the Secretary for the Public Health Department m order to promote a scheme by which nurses can transfer their superannuation contributions to a Public Hospital and other branches of the Government Nursing Services, and that the same Committee investigates the means of formulating a scheme as to how the present superannuation scheme can be extended to include all graduate nurses." 3|C 3)1 3)C j|C Miss Holford presented a report on Compensation to Maternity Xurses. :- "That where it has been found necessary for a hospital to be closed or a nurse to be taken off duty through no fault of her own, but for the safe-guarding of the community, she should not be permitted to bear the whole financial loss ; we ask the Department of Health to recompense the nurse as is done m other Departments." These three reports were adopted. It was moved, seconded, and carried: "That this recommendation be sent forward that Hospital Boards be asked that the International Nursing Review should be placed m their nursing libraries." Airs. Kidd moved, and Miss M. Bagley seconded: "That a vote of condolence be 1 moved to the relatives of Sir Geo. Fenwick, who was a very active member of the Xurses 1 Memorial Fund." — Carried. Miss Kohn moved, and Miss Holford seconded: "That a letter of sympathy be sent to Miss Maclean concerning her recent illness and an appreciation of her work." — Carried. Miss Holford moved, and Miss McKenny seconded: "A vote of thanks and

appreciation to the Secretary, who has done such great work during the year." — Carried. Miss Holford moved, and Miss McKenny seconded: "That an honorarium of £15/15/- be paid to Miss Inglis." Carried. A deputation from the National Council of Women waited on the meeting, and asked that they appoint a delegate or representative to a National Committee set up m regard to the Pan-Pacific Conference to be held m August, 1930." Airs. Tracy-Inglis : "After listening to this deputation it seems wise that we should appoint someone to this Committee." Miss Kohn moved, and Miss Holford seconded: "That Miss Bicknell be asked to act as Convenor of the Health Committee." — Carried. Mrs. Tracy-Inglis: "I thank Miss Bicknell very much for coming to the Conference. Her help is very valuable. I wish to give her my thanks and the thanks of the Council." Miss Bicknell : "ft is a great pleasure for me to come and be of what use I can. 1 am vitally interested m anything m connection with the profession. It is a tremendous help for the Director to be associated because she gets insight into the difficulties of the Association as well as her knowledge of the working profession as a whole. It is a very valuable experience indeed, and I am only too pleased to attend and give the benefit of anything I have gleaned of wisdom and experience m the twenty years of my work." Miss Holford moved, and Miss Muir seconded: "That a vote of sympathy be sent to Miss Hood, who has recently been very ill." — Carried. Miss McKenny moved, and Miss l\eddie seconded: "That the Association send a vote of condolence to the relatives of the late Miss Todd, and place on record their great regret at her death, and the appreciation of the work she did m the nursing service," — Carried,

.Miss Inglis : "Miss Moore and Miss Lambie ask for authority to spend £21/18/5 held m treasury on a further supply of books and journals for the Grace Xeill Memorial Library." Miss Hagley : "Could I remind branches that gifts to the Grace Neill Memorial Library would always be very acceptable. Someone m the branch might have an up-to-date useful book, and could write and ask the Nurse Instructors if it would be acceptable." Miss Bagley moved, and Miss Orsman seconded: "That the expenditure be authorised." — Carried. Miss Muir : "I would like to propose on behalf of the delegates a very hearty vote of thanks to Mrs. Tracy-Inglis, and our grateful thanks to the Auckland Association for their kindness and hospitality m caring for us and entertaining us, and being so patient with us m every way. I am sure every delegate at this Conference has had a very inspiring and helpful meeting." Miss Kohn seconded. — Carried. Miss M. Bagley moved, and Miss Inglis seconded: "That a vote of thanks be passed to Miss Houchen for her great kindness and care for the visiting delegates." — Carried. Mrs. Tracy-Inglis : "Miss Houchen has been invaluable right throughout, and I am more than pleased that you have recognised this. "With regard to myself, I thank you very much for the nice things you have said about me." Miss Muir: "I think on behalf of the Association we should extend a very hearty vote of thanks to Miss Bicknell and Miss McKenny for returning from the International Conference and giving us such wonderful inspiration and interest to carry on m all matters m connection with nursing education and nurses m general. I feel that this Conference has been a very great help and inspiration to proceed and* to try still harder to carry on the good work of the profession to which we

belong. One feels that we are only m our infancy. I would like to move a hearty vote of thanks for all these ladies have done m giving us that fresh stimulus." Miss Bagley : "1 beg to endorse all Miss Muir has said. I feel I have benefited very much by many of the things that Miss Bicknell and Miss McKenny have told us, and I feel it has been an inspiration." Miss Bicknell: "I just want to say that 1 appreciate very much the kind words of appreciation and the way m which you have carried this motion. Personally Ido not feel that I have reported half enough. I want to say that I do think that Miss McKenny has given us really a wonderful report, because it was very difficult to pick out the salient points of what happened at the Conference. It was difficult to hear. It was difficult to get from one place to another. They were crowded and they were held m so many places. How Miss McKenny managed to draw up such a useful report is beyond me." (It is hoped to publish this report m our next issue. — Ed.) Miss McKenny : "I thank you and Miss Bicknell for the "iery gracious remarks, which I hope you will believe are exaggerated. They proceed more from the kindness of her heart than from any value of work I have done. I can only thank you once again for the great privilege you gave me of doing this service. As Miss Bicknell says, we have touched only the fringe of the work we were so happy to be m contact with. What is remaining we hope eventually to place m your hands. If any of you have any special enquiries to make. I hope you will make any use of me that comes to your minds, m correspondence or any other way." Mrs. Tracy-Inglis : "At the Round Table on Nursing Education it was proposed and seconded that the following be sent as a recommendation to the Hospital Boards' Association : "That more trained help be given to the Sister of a ward who should not have an

excessive number of patients under her care." This was put to the meeting and confirmed. Miss Inglis : "I must make an addition to what was said this morning. I omitted to express my thanks to Miss Bicknell, Director of Nursing, for all the help she gave me during the year m connection with Association work, not only herself but her office. There were many occasions when typing and cyclostyling have been done by her assistants. I want to make this

acknowledgment to Miss Bicknell for her help." Miss Bicknell : "It is not necessary for me to be thanked. It is just the sort of thing that one does naturally. I am keenly interested m our Association, as I should be. I am glad if I can help m any way. I thank you very much for this vote of thanks. I am only too glad to help, and will continue to do so with very great pleasure." This concluded the business.