“NURSES’ BOARD HAS HIDDEN DICTATOR”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 179, 19 October 1927, Page 16

“NURSES’ BOARD HAS HIDDEN DICTATOR”

MR. W. WALLACE PROTESTS

“The Nurses’ Registration Board is a most autocratic body with a rule of one. There is some dictator behind the scenes!” The chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. William Wallace voiced his protest against the limitation of maternity trainees in hospitals yesterday and blamed it on to the Nurses’ Registration Board. Mr. Wallace said that he had taken up the subject at the laying of a foundation stone of a Palmerston hospital, but the Minister had “sheltered himself” behind the Registration Board. At the Whangarei Hospital, Mr. Wallace had pointed out, there were 227 births in a year and it was allowed to train only two midwives. In many instances abnormal cases were brought to the Auckland Hospital land nurses there who had no midj wifery training at all were getting more | practice than the qualified midwives. “The Governor-General himself could not refuse a deputation, but the Registration Board can,” he continued. “Dr. Valintine says it was set up in his absence without his approval.” ; Mr. Wallace hoped that when the j Minister had interviewed “that august board,” it would be brought to its better senses. It was decided to leave the subject . in the hands of the Hospital Boards’ Association.