NURSES’ ASSOCIATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1941, Page 2

NURSES’ ASSOCIATION

WAIRARAPA BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING LAST NIGHT. INTERESTING ADDRESSES. The annual meeting of the Wairarapa branch of the N.Z. Registered Nurses’ Association was held at the Country Women’s Club last night. Mrs W. James presided over a large attendance of members. The guests of the evening were Miss M, Lambie, 0.8. E. (Director Division of Nursing, Department of Health, Wellington), and Miss M. F. Barnett (Inspector Department of Health, Wellington). Dr. Helen Cowie was also present and the various women’s organisations were represented by Mrs G. G. Tolhurst, Mrs A. R. Bunny, Mrs J. Caselberg, Miss Whitehouse and Miss M. Diggins. Amongst the apologies for absence received were those received from Mrs T. Jordan (Mayoress), Mrs .A. C. Gawith, Mrs S. Fletcher and Miss McKenny. ...

Mrs W. James, president of the asS sociation, extended a welcome to the guests, and expressed the honour the association felt at having Been favoured with the presence of/Miss Lambie, whose time was so mtich taken up with emergencies arising through the war conditions, and also JVliss Barnett, an ex-president of the association, whose time likewise was very much occupied. , The report and balance sheet as circulated to members was tdken as read. Mrs James complimented the association on its activities during the and stated that it was a matter of great credit and pride to th,gm that the membership of the branch now stood at 108 financial and 9 associate members. Eight members were serving as members of the N.Z.A.N..S.A. and one member was in a military hospital in New Zealand, she said.

Miss C. Houlbrooke presented the annual report on behalf of the Student Nurses’ Association.

Mrs James then introduced Miss Lambie who gave a very interesting address on the work ‘of the nursing profession, particularly in the time of war and emergency. She stated thatowing to conditions brought about by the war and the introduction of the Social Security legislation, which had raised the occupied bed position at the hospitals considerably, the question of /staffing was a very serious problem. Miss Lambie urged members to give of their very best jn service and conduct.

Miss Higginson, matron of the Greydown Hospital, proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Lambie, which was carried. Miss Barnett also addressed the meeting and complimented the association on its activity. She stated that it gave her great pleasure to be again amongst them. Miss Barnett in the course of a very interesting talk emphasised the need for preparedness foi any emergency which may arise either through the war or a national disaster. She recommended the nurses to take up with their training the art of first aid which’ was being done in most of the large centres now. Miss Barnett cited the evacuation of Cromwell Hospital, which is the Karitane Home for Children in London, as an outstanding example of the benefit of training foi these emergencies. This hospital suffered severely in air raids. Musical items were given by Mrs J. Ogilvy and Miss Dennis Mahoney, and were much appreciated. Mrs Stewart thanked the hospital staff for the use of their room for the meeting, and the Wairarapa Hospital Board for courtesies. Miss Grant, matron Masterton Hospital, expressed the thanks of the members of the branch to Mrs W. James for the able manner in which she had carried out -the duties of president. Prior to the serving of supper, Mrs James expressed thanks to Miss M. M. Brown, secretary to the association, for the valuable service she had rendered the association.

The council members elected for the ensuing year are:—Mesdames K. D. James, J. McKenzie, M. M. Stewart, C. Forsyth, L. Curtis and Misses M. M. Brown, E. Cocker, K. Craig, H. D. Grant, L. Higginson, M. McMullen, and F. Meredith. The executive will be elected from these members.