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Dr. ATKINSON.-I do not think so. The present is the lowest number by which the nursing at the Hospital is efficient. In my opinion the staff of Sisters ought to be maintained at its present number. If a number of the Eurasian girls were trained it would be much easier to arrange for leave to the Sisters. I think the proposal to train these girls is worth a trial. It would necessitate a little extra expense to the Government at first. A building would have to be erected for them or else Miss JOHNStone would have to be paid for their board.
Mr. MCCONACHIE.--There is just this difficulty, as soon as they are trained they might go away?
Dr. ATKINSON. That could be obviated by having them under agreement, and, of course, it would be just possible, if it proved successful, that they might be used by the loctors in the Colony to attend private cases at a certain charge to be paid to the Government.
THE PRESIDENT.--Do the nursing Sisters go out for private nursing at present?
Dr. ATKINSON.-No; their work is confined to the Hospital. At present we have one Sister on duty in each of the two flats; under the proposed scheme we would have one Sister and one probationer on duty and the probationer would always be under the observation of a Sister. I think it is a very good idea. I spoke to the Matron about it before I left, only we did not go into the matter fully because we did not know there would be any Eurasians available. It might be arranged if only one Sister went on leave to continue with the present nursing staff, but according to their agreement five might resign next month on six months' notice, but they are reasonable and would not do anything to hamper the work of the Hospital. If this scheme of training Eurasians is adopted it would be of great assistance to us.
Mr. THURBURN.--It would not cost much at any rate?
· Dr. ATKINSON.- No; I do not think so.
Mr. MCCONACHIE.--How many Eurasians do you propose to take on at first?
Dr. ATKINSON.-I think there are only two available.
Mr. MCCONACHIE.--But it might not be necessary to confine it to Miss JOHNSTONE'S
place. How many would you recommend if they are available?
Dr. ATKINSON.---I do not think we could manage with more than four.
THE PRESIDENT.—You have heard it mentioned that dispensaries might be of use in different parts of the Colony?
Dr. ATKINSON.-As regards the dispensaries, at present I do not know of China- men with sufficient qualifications to take charge of such dispensaries under the general but limited supervision that the Colonial Surgeon, with his present staff, is able to exer- cise. If the staff is increased by the appointment of an officer acting as medical officer of health and duly qualified dispensers are forthcoming, I think something in this direction might be attempted. You might have a few in the city, and put them under the medical officer of health for the town. He might manage to supervise four or five of them. In order to find out if they are duly qualified, the dispensers would have to pass an examination, because we do not know the standard of examination at the Alice Memorial Hospital. You know pretty well what the proclivities are of the Chinese in the way of squeezing, and if not properly supervised the men in charge of these dispen- saries might indulge in some pranks of that sort. The medical officer of health might casily find time to supervise them if there was no epidemic.
Mr. THURBURN. My impression was that with so little supervision, and from what I know of the Chinese character, these young men would not be trustworthy.
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