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Miss EASTMOND.--No. I cannot say now what staff she had under her, but she had an amah. None of the wardmasters or the boys in the Civil Hospital are under me. In the wards the boys are under the supervision of the Sisters. The Sisters sometimes report to me and sometimes to the doctor, as necessary.
Mr. MCCONACHIE.-Is the provision made for the Sisters quite satisfactory?
Miss EASTMOND.-They think six months' leave rather short. It means only four months at home in six years. Five of us came out at the same time, and the reason why six months was suggested was to spread the leave over a certain time. It will take four and a half years to give us leave.
Mr. THURBURN.-Do you think Dr. Lowson's proposal will meet the difficulty?
Miss EASTMOND.—I have read Dr. Lowson's memorandum. Of course, this is an untried scheme, and one cannot say whether it would answer or not. The only thing is to try it. I approve of its being tried; but I should like to get Dr. ATKINSON'S opinion on it. I think we ought to wait and see what he has to say about it.
Mr. MCCONACHIE.-What would be the ultimate position these girls would attain in the Hospital?
Miss EASTMOND.-Nothing; they would have to leave after a time. They could not come on as Sisters. We could not train Sisters sufficiently at the Civil Hospital. We could not train them to become Sisters; they might do private nursing but they could not hold the same position as nurses at home. There is not enough experience here to train Sisters.
The President.—How long do you think these girls would require for training? Miss EASTMOND.-Dr. Lowson suggests two or three years.
Dr. CANTLIE.-There are nine Sisters; could you not employ these girls in the Hospital permanently if you are going to have them for the four and a half years over which the leave extends? Do not you think it would be a pity to lose them? Do you think you could do with fewer Sisters and more probationers?
Miss EASTMOND.-These girls would cease to be probationers. I do not think they could take the place of Sisters. They would not have the same influence with the patients. They would require to be constantly under the eye of the Sisters.
Dr. CANTLIE.-You do not think you could decrease the number of Sisters and increase the number of probationers ?
Miss EASTMOND.-I could not say so now.
Dr. CANTLIE.-If trained up to take charge of a ward, do you think you could reduce the number of Sisters ?
Miss EASTMOND.-I am afraid I could not say so far ahead.
Dr. CANTLIE.-Do you think there is work for them with the present staff?
Miss EASTMOND.-I do not think they are needed, but they might be useful when any of the Sisters are knocked up. Since we came out the number of Chinese patients has increased, and there are more surgical cases. That means that there is more work
in the Hospital.
Dr. CANTLIE.-Would you like help?
Miss EASTMOND.-I think we are able to do the work quite well. Leave begins
this year. One Sister goes this year. Some people say we are entitled to the same
leave as other Government servants, according to our agreement.
THE PRESIDENT.-Is it proposed to have these probationers only?