HOSPITAL STAFFS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 9, 9 August 1946, Page 5

HOSPITAL STAFFS

GIRLS FROM THE OLD COUNTRY LOCAL BOARD’S ENDORSEMENT The letter from the Thames Hospital Board urging that the Hospital Boards Association should bring pressure to bear upon the Government to bring young women, from England and possibly Europe for the purpose of meeting the drastic labour shortage in hospitals throughout the Dominion was considered at the meeting of the Whakatane Hospital Board on Thursday. , . ; -

The Chairman, Mr J. Mullins, produced a copy of an English paper in which advertisements for nursing and hospital staff members, and domestics predominated. Rates of pay for probationers were fixed at £4O for the first year and £SO for the second.

Mr Buddie advised supporting the letter only as far as Government policy was involved. Mr McCready declared that the 40-hour week lay at the bottom of the trouble. There was not sufficient people to meet the volume of work which was offering owing to the handicap imposed by restricted hours of work.

“We’ve got to support this scheme” declared Mr Caulfield. “Its the only way out as far as I can see. If the labour is simply not in New Zealand, then We’ve got to get it elsewhere.”

Mr Suckling considered that the Thames Board based their claims that plenty of labour would be offering in England on pure assumption. The position should first be investigated by the Government.

Mr Burt reiterated what he had said before that there were plenty of young women available in New Zealand if the rates of pay were only made attractive enough. “I’m afraid that we are living in a mercenary world,” said the ‘chairman. “The young people of today are getting away from the joy of achievement and only regarding the monetary aspect of life. Nursing has become the Cinderella of industry.” He favoured seeking of Government assistance for securing suitable labour from England for preference, but failing that from Europe itself. Mr McGougan: Wages don’t come into it. If there is any class of workers who deserve consideration from us on account of the arduous nature of their work, it is the nurses. On the motion of Mr Buddie it was decided to support the suggestion that the Government be requested to go into the matter of securing staff overseas for the purpose of assisting hospitals generally.