NEILL, GRACE (1846-1926), the daughter of an Argyllshire landed proprietor, was born in Edinburgh, educated in Rugby, and trained as a nurse at the Charing Cross and King's Cross hospitals. She was matron of large institutions in London and Manchester, before coming to Australia in 1886 (with her husband and son). She joined the staff of the Brisbane Daily Telegraph, and in 1891 served on a royal commission investigating the conditions of labour in shops and factories. In 1893 Mrs Neill came to New Zealand and joined the government service as an inspector of factories, also helping E. Tregear to edit the Journal of Labour. In the following year she was transferred to the department of hospitals and charitable aid, and became official visitor to the Wellington lunatic asylums. Mrs Neill was one of the founders of the international council of nurses, and was responsible for many nursing reforms in New Zealand. She died on 19 Aug 1926.

Cycl. NZ., i (p); H. Maclean, Nursing in N.Z., 1932; N.Z. Times, 26, 27 May 1897; The Dominion, 20 Aug 1926.

Reference: Volume 2, page 61

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