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Studies. Health of Nurses. —During the year the Committee of the International Council of Nurses issued to all training-schools for nurses throughout its member countries a most detailed questionnaire on the subject " Health of Nursing Staffs." This questionnaire was to form the basis of a five-year study. A fresh questionnaire will be issued each year and the compilation will be undertaken at Geneva under the guidance of the International Committee, of which Oberin Dominika Pietzcker, of Vienna, is chairwoman. In New Zealand it has been decided to carry out a five-year study of our own along similar lines. In view of this the questionnaires, after being filled in by the matrons of our training-schools, were returned to my office, where the answers were summarized before being sent to Geneva. The results obtained show definite weaknesses, for instance :— (a) Of 350 applicants for training examined only 12 per cent, were rejected and these rejections were confined practically to three hospitals : (b) Only eight out of the twenty-one training-schools, as a routine, X-ray the chest of all applicants for training : (c) Only five out of the same number carry out a tuberculosis skin test: (d) The average number of days' sickness per pupil nurse is seven and per trained nurse six. When it is considered that there is a nursing staff of approximately 2,000 in the training-schools of the Dominion it will be seen what a very big economic problem this is, quite apart from its humanitarian point of view. This study already emphasizes the points made in a previous report that if satisfactory results are to be obtained in regard to the health of our nurses it is necessary to provide for— (1) A detailed health examination at the commencement of training by a member of the Hospital Board's stipendary medical staff, together with a careful X-ray of the chest and preferably with tuberculin skin test; (2) Better supervision during the nurses' training which should include —Monthly weighing ; Medical examination at yearly intrevals or as often as thought necessary ; innoculation with T.A.B. A further measure is being carried out in one training-school where a Mantoux skin test is performed on all entrants. Those showing a negative reaction at the commencement of their training are retested every three months, and those acquiring a marked positive reaction are then given a detailed physical examination and kept under observation. At least one nurse was found during the year who had obviously had a heavy dose of infection, and who was thus put under strict supervision and treatment in the beginning with excellent results. (3) The need for a more varied dietary, with an allowance of at least one pint of milk per day per nurse, fresh fruit, and an allowance of at least 2,500-2,800 calories per day per nurse. One or two hospitals endeavour to cater for choice by having alternative dishes for each section of the meal. During the recent hot summer one matron found her nursing staff not attending meals, and consequently flagging. Lunch at midday, with principally a salad meal, and dinner at night was instituted, with a marvellous response. Nursing Technique.—The same method as in previous years was adopted of preparing very detailed questionnaires covering different aspects of nursing technique. These were circulated and the results were summarized. The subjects selected this year were —(a) The technique for a surgical dressing ; (b) a vaginal douche ; and (c) an enema. The answers displayed great disparity. As it was felt that a medical committee to which these questionnaires and their findings might be submitted would be of great assistance, the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association and the New Zealand Branch of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons were each asked to nominate a physician and a surgeon respectively, and the Health Department to nominate a bacteriologist who will, together with Dr. Shore, act as an advisory committee. There is no doubt that the issuing of these questionnaires stimulates matrons to examine their own technique, and that the work of the past three years has made for marked improvements is evidenced in visits of inspection. Nurses and Midwives Registration Boakd. The personnel of the Nurses and Midwives Registration Board has remained the same. The New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association again nominated Miss Tennent and Miss Morgan, whose periods of office terminated in October, and who were duly appointed. This year there were only two meetings of the Board—in August and again in November. The August meeting was postponed from July to suit the convenience of some of the Board members, and the March meeting, for a similar reason, was postponed until the first week in April, 1935. Reports covering the inspection of eighteen general hospitals, twelve maternity training-schools, and four midwifery training-schools were considered by the Board and appropriate action taken in each case. This action covered hours of work where pupil nurses were employed in the operatingtheatre in addition to their regular hours of duty in the wards ; additional staff when it was considered the proportion of nurses to the occupied bed-rate of the hospital was insufficient; additional teaching equipment where the requirements of the Registration Board had not been met. Patea Hospital was cancelled as a training-school, and with the assistance of the Health Department arrangements were made to absorb the pupil nurses from this hospital at Wanganui.

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