HOSPITAL STAFFS AND WAR BONUS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16159, 13 March 1918, Page 5

HOSPITAL STAFFS AND WAR BONUS.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE FBESS." Sir,—l do not think it has occurred to tho general public the injustice that members of the Hospital staff havo suffered during the past • four years. AVhilo every description of labour, from servant giris to Government employees, havo had increases in their salaries, members of tho Hospital staff, nurses, laundry maids, and the general employees, have not had any increase. must be admitted that tlley, as a class, do their duty in an admirable manner, and tho increased cost of living has applied to them equally as much as to the general public, while the remuneration that they have received has been far below that paid to others with_ less onerous duties. Ido not think it is generally known that tho salaries paid to probationers work out to id per hour, nursos 4d, while laundry maids receive 6d per hour for a week of 47-a----hours. These girls work in an atmosphere of steam and wet all day. Tho Board very liberally allows them morn" ing tea, but they have to work hair an hour extra for it, starting at i .30 summer and winter. j The nursing 6taff have a small jro- j portion of washing done free, but thei bulk thoy have to have done outside.; I am told it is the custom of the Board to grant an increase to a few of the' employees each year, but as it applies to a very few, and they are generally the same each year, t£c general staff receive no increase. Why cannot the | Board grant a 10 per cent, bonus to all]

salaries under £250, thG same as tlis Government havo done? "When tho lady members of the Board -wore elected, we. were told that they would especially look after the interests of the female members of the staff. So far, they have not justified their appointment. Tho if given, would amount to a very littlo, if any, increase in the rates, and would remove the reproach that one class of the community wero singled out to bear more than "their share of the war expenses. —Yours, ctc., „ FAIR ffLAY.