H—31

72

instruction on the lines of the block system in two of our training-schools; we have comfortable nurses' residential homes for nurses in training, and we have inaugurated living-out for registered nurses ; we have supervision of the training-schools to ensure that conditions are reasonable —all points other countries are striving for. But there still remains a more general recognition for the need for reform first among nurses themselves, and then amongst their controlling authorities, if this very important problem is to be solved for the good of our country.

Conclusion.

With the conclusion of the financial year the Department moved its quarters from the old Parliamentary Buildings to the new Social Security Building. In the moving many old and valuable records were brought to light—for instance, the original draft for the first register and priceless letters (one being from Miss Lavinia Dock—the then editor of the American Nurse —congratulating Miss Maclean on the first issue of Kai Tiaki), as well as many evidences of the early close association of the Nursing Division of the Department and the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association. Probably few of us realize what an important factor this oneness of thought and action has been to the nurses in New Zealand and how fortunate we are that our predecessors had such vision. May our new beginnings bear fruit equally well in the future.

Again I must thank the members of our own staff, the members of the Hospital Board staffs, and the voluntary organizations, as well as the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association and the officers of the Education Department, for their ready help during the past year.

M. I. Lambie,

Director, Division of Nursing.