HOSPITAL NURSES

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16154, 7 March 1918, Page 9

HOSPITAL NURSES

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE TBESS." Sir, —I notice a Jettor in your paper of to-day signed "Parent,"' the subject of it twmg the long hours which probationers have to work and be on duty at 1 presume, the Christchurch Public Hospital. The hours mentioned are jjfty-six a wetJfc, being eight hours a day, Sundays inNuded. lam not aware jf such hospital is under Government control or not. Probably it gets a subsidy from tho Government, but whether such is tho case or not, is not tho question introduced by "Parent's" / letter and information. Now, I am informed that in certain Government institutions, or such under Government control, the hours fixed for probationers a.e cighty-foiir per week, or twelve hours per day. The work is hard, and ' requires both mental and bodily work. >'ow, ir such is the state of things in a Government institution, may I ask, is this a democratic country or a nation of governed by an autocratic mling class? I just Jay the facts before the public for what they are worth, but I appeal to tho women of New Zealand to make it their duty to enquire into the matter of tho hours worked iv probationers in public hospitals, and St. Helens maternity ones. In the iastmentioned the probationers have to pay fees to the extent of twenty pounds entry into such institutions for the year. I am not going into any sentimental or hysterical writing on the sub- (

.-.act. I only Ssk the public and tho omen of New Zealand to consider the

case, and if it is so, r.nd I think it is k>, t<- at once have such slavery abolish-ed-tfneo and for all. It's <1 disgraco for such to exist, if such is the case, "t's up to the vfromen of New Zealand to take it into consideration. I .lust appeal to them, as parents, or sisters, or relations, to make the enquiry into the subject, and I hope they will make audi enquiry public, I may say that probationers* in some maternity institutions receive no pay whatsoever, but if they work the year through they get a oerttfiento entitling them to work as maternity nurses. Probably by the end of the year th?y are just physical •yvreeks, just a tort of despairing machinery set to no o;l . booausn under the whip of sucit slavery it is do or die and go under. And most either die or go under, or elrc tiV.v <[i'it such abominable sorvitudo in time.—Yours. etc.. democrat. Ifarch stli.