Waikato Hospital

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XXII, Issue 4, 1 November 1929, Page 205

Waikato Hospital

On Friday, 27th September, a meeting of trained nurses, interested m forming a branch of the N.Z. Trained Nurses' Association, was held m the Recreation Room of the Xew Nurses' Home at 2.45 p.m. There was a very gratifying attendance. those present being: — Miss Keddie. Miss Inglis, Mesdames Hockin. Burrell, Graham, Snell. Newell, Speedy, Dougherty, Sanson, Mannering, Currie. McKinnon, Simons, Garner, McAllister, Misses Har-row-ell, Ansenne, Roby, McDonald, Hawkins, Maisie. McCormick, Smales, Murray. Fricker, Jenkins, Clarkin, Bonnington, Macdiarmid, John stone, Moncur,

McKay, Wrigley, Glenie, Butler-Stoney, Brown, Nicholl, Patton.

Apologies were received from Misses Rothwell, Searell, Finlayson, White, Hay, Sinclair, Reidy, Lowe, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Chitty.

Miss Keddie then introduced Miss Inglis, the Secretary-General of the X.Z. Trained Nurses' Association.

Miss Inglis gave an interesting address about the history, aims, and objects of the N.Z. Trained Nurses' Association. She said that, m 1905, Wellington formed a Trained Nurses' Association, followed by Dunedin, Auckland, and then Christ-

church. All were separate Associations, but m 1909. Miss Maclean suggested that they all combine, which they did. Thus the X.Z. Trained Nurses' Association was formed. Now there are branches m the four larger towns, and Taranaki, Wanganui. Hawke's Hay. Nelson, Southland, Gisborne, and they are hoping for one m Waikato, Timaru and Rotorua. Until 1923 the meetings were held every three years, but have since been held annually.

The Association worked very hard for the superannuation for nurses, but it was only with the help of the Hon. Mark Cohen that it became an accomplished fact. A most deplorable complication has arisen, m that almost all nurses withdraw from the fund on completion of their training without realising what they are giving up, or that they are affecting the benefits of others. It has also been largely responsible for the Post-Graduate Course, which was begun m Wellington last year. One of the most recent accomplishments was to influence the Government to send Miss Bicknell to the International Council Congress at Montreal.

In 1923 the New Zealand Nursing journal, which up to that date had been the private property of Miss Maclean, the Editor, was taken over by the X.Z. Trained Nurses' Association, Miss Maclean being retained as Editor, and a Managing Committee was elected to control the finance of the magazine.

Miss Inglis concluded her address by hoping that a branch of the Association would be formed m Hamilton and that it would be most successful.

Miss Keddie then proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Inglis for her interesting address.

The meeting then decided to form a Waikato branch of the Trained Nurses' Association, and Miss Keddie was elected President. Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Hockin and Miss Fricker ; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Harrowell; Committee. Mrs. Graham. Airs. Snell, Miss Ansenne, Miss Searell, Miss Maisey, Miss Hooker, Miss McCormick.

Afternoon tea was then handed round, and a very successful meeting was brought to a close.