10977
95
184
necessary for the purpose of supervision, the Nurses' so-called doing much of the work at present performed by the "Sisters". We are not however in a position to forecast events and we therefore make no recommendation for the reduction of the European Nursing Staff unless circumstances justify such reduction.
4. On this report, which was concurred in by Dr. J. M. Atkinson, then Acting Colonial Surgeon, the Governor on the 30th May, 1895, approved of Dr. Lowson's scheme subject to the limitations recommended by the Medical Committee and directed that effect should be given to it when suitable candidates offered themselves.
5. Mr. Chamberlain in his Despatch No.229 of the 18th September, 1895, which dealt with the report of the Medical Committee, sent to him in Sir William Robinson's Despatch No.163 of the 18th May, 1895, instructed that the training of Eurasian Nurses under the superintendence of the European Sisters should not be lost sight of". The Despatch also transmitted a copy of a letter from Dr. P. B. C. Ayers, C.M.G., the Colonial Surgeon who was then on leave in England, which dealt with the question of probationary Nurses in the following terms:-
*The recommendation made by me as regards the experiment of training Eurasian Nurses has been also recommended by the Committee and the expense is trivial if it should not be a success, but in no case would they be able to take the permanent place of a European Nursing Sister. If successful it would be economical as a temporary arrangement to the Government, give these girls a means of earning a very good