DISTRICT NURSES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 16 June 1919, Page 2

DISTRICT NURSES.

EXTENSION OF SCHEME URGED. The provision of district nurses for’ country districts cropped up at Thursday’s meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, when Dr. HuthwaitC, of Otaki. wrote staling-that the residents of the southern end of the Otaki. Hospital District were desirous- of securing the services of a district nurse. The townships of Waikanae, i’urape raumu, and Paekakariki proposed to Coin bine and raise subscriptions for tho purpose. They desired to know if the Board would agree to pay a portion of the nurse’s salary, in event of the. resi-

dents not being able to raise a sufficient sum. Ah Waikarme was in the Palmecrtou Hospital District he suggested that all subscriptions raised there be paid over to the Board, in order to earn the Government subsidy of IMs in the pound, and in event of there being a deficit the Board pay ono-third and the Wellington Hospital Board two-thirds. The chairman (Sir James Wilson) explained that he had already replied f 0 Dr. Huthvvaitc .stating that the Board vias in sympathy with the proposal, and that the Board could only obtain the necessary subsidy providing any funds raised were vested irt them entirely. -Mr F. Penn, of Otaki. explained that

since the letter had been written it had been practically decided to secure two nurses, one for Paraparaumu district and the other for the Waikanac dis>riet. Sufficient money had been raised in the former district, and as they were in the Wellington district they would not be making any application to the Palmerston Board. The Waikanac settlers would probably apply to the Board for assistance. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., moved: “That whenever they arc satisfied timf. the services of a district -nurse are warranted the Board provide a subsidy up to £otf”

Dr. Whitaker said that it. ivjiK $* quen~ Lon of policy, and he thought that the proposal was a good one. The speaker enlarged upon the good work accomplished wherever district nurse* were established, but he pointed out that being a matter of policy the proposal should receive a little consideration before the Board made its decision. Mr Nash accordingly withdrew his motion with the object of permitting the matter to be more fully discus-..--d at another meeting.

As regard* the letter before the Board, on the suggestion of Mr Pear further consideration ~r tbe mm « v.theld over fill next meeting.—Palmerston “.Standard.”