DISTRICT NURSE WANTED.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 19 May 1919, Page 3

DISTRICT NURSE WANTED.

FOR BAEAPARAUMH, WAIKANAE, AND PAEKAKARIHI.

rf ; There was a capital representative gathering at the Anglican schoolroom, Pnraparaumu, on Friday night, at a " meeting convened by Mrs Hadfield to v consider the advisability of taking steps to secure a. district nurse for the 3 Pnraparaumu, iPaekakariki, Waikanae, and Rildorangi districts. 1 Dr.- Huthwaite, of Otaki, who occu- ■ pied the chair, said there was no need 1 for him to stress the need for the ap--1 pointment of a nurse for the wide district referred to; the need was obvious. He thought the time had arrived when they should take steps in that direction. Dr. Huthwaite gave an outline of the steps that he thought it advisable to take in order to accomplish their ends. ; He suggested the appointment of a com- i mifctee, representing each of tko centres of the district, which could canvass the district and ascertain what support was forthcoming. They would need to seeuro promises of about £3O. If these were secured they should approach the. Hospital Board with a request that they make an appointment. The Hospital Board could get the Government subsidy of 24s in the £. The Hospital Board would pay the nurse’s salary and provide equipment, but all donations received must bo handed to the Hospital j Board. In this iustaneo there wore two Boards interested, Waikaue being in

the Palmerston North hospital district, and the other part of the district to be -served in the Wellington area. The speaker suggested that Wellington bo responsible for two-thirds of the liability, and Palmerston North one-third. The chairman said he had written the chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board re the matter, and had received a sympathetic reply, though not committing the. Board to financial support. Mrs Hadfield had also received an encouraging letter from the matron of the Wellington Hospital. Dr. Huthwaite read ono of the rules governing the appointment of district nurses, to the effect that if the settlers interested provided at least half of the cost, it was compulsory for the Board to appoint the nurse. On Mts Hadfield ’s suggestion the

rules relating to district aurse, charges made for attendance, fees, etc., woro read to the meeting. Mrs Elder asked if the £SO suggested as probable amount to bo raised was for the wholo district, and was answered in the affirmative, Mr B. Maclean thought the total cost of the nurse,_ including salary, travelling expenses* etc,* would be about £2OO per annum, I Mr E. .Clark said ho was under the impression that the fees charged would go to tho local committee, but the chair, man said this was not so. Tho foes would go to tho Board. The Board provided all necessary equipment, dressings, etc.. Mrs Hadfield suggested that a committee be set up to consider the matter more fully and canvass for subscriptions. Mr Tatton Fraser thought meetings should be held in each of tho centres of the district to bo served, and said that there was nothing to prevent their appointing a nurse and supporting her themselves. They would then retain the fees collected, which would amount to a good sum per annum. It might pay them better to do this. Mr Fraser thought the matter of travelling woffid he an expensive item. If they got a bicycle the nurse might .want a horse and trap, while if they got the lattor she might want a motor car. Mr E. Clarke said he had had a little experience of districts where a nurse had been employed, and it was the usual custom for those who wanted the nurso to fetch her, especially in an out-of-the-way place. The travelling should not be a very costly matter, but it all depended on the nurse they got for the position. Mr Clarke paid a fribiite to i the splendid work done in the Parapaxaumu district, in the past by Mesdames Jones and Wright, to whom they owed a deep debt of gratitude. Now that they were to be without the help of these* ladies, ho urged that they should not let this chance of getting a district nurse go by. Ho asked them 1 not to look ou‘ the ’dark side, but do

their utmost r.ml help the- project, A nurse would be a great boon to tho district, and they should certainly try and , get. the scheme carried cur. Mr Clarke j proposed that a committee be set up to j go fully into the question. The committee might ascertain definitely about ‘ the nurses’ fees, see what help was likely to he forthcoming, and also decide whether it would be wise to ap- ■ point a nurse independent of the Hospital Board. Mr Beckett seconded the motion. He thought possibly the fees charged by the nuTse would reduce the guarantee. Rev. Kendriek advocated the setting up of a committee, which could clear up points about which they were uncertain.

After a little discussion, in which Messrs Aplin and E. Maclean took part, i Mr Clarke’s motion was put and car- , tied. | Mr Tatton Fraser asked if they could . get an idea of the cost- of equipping a j | nurse, independent of the hospital j j boards, and also the probable amount ■ j that would be collected in fees. _ j The Chairman said it was impossible , I to say what fees would be collected, but 1 they could get an estimate of the co?i | | of'equipping n nurse. He thought L j > would be difficult to get; a nurse unless j she were under the Hospital Board. I j Mr'Hardham pointed out that a nurse , appointed by the Hospital Board would ; have an assured position, whereas one | appointed independently would have no i security of tenure. He did not favour : the appointment of aa independent

‘ nurse, .Moreover, if they had any c-om-I plaints to make re the appointment, I they could appeal to the Board to • remedy these. Several suggestions were made as to the number to he appointed on the committee, but, after considerable discus-

sion,-it was resolved that the committee be restricted to "five members, and tho following were appointed, viz.;—Mesdames Hadfield and Williams, and Messrs E. Clarke, R. Maclean and P. Beckett.

The committee will arrange for rneeti ings to be held at Waikane and Pnekakarild, at which Dr. Huthwaite kindly consented to bo present, secure definite information re fees to he charged, etc., and canvass for subscriptions, after which a further meeting will he held to take definite action re the project. A very successful mooting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to Dr. Huthwaite for presiding.