WOMEN AND THEIR WAGES

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 9

WOMEN AND THEIR WAGES

Some 'interesting' information, is furnished by a correspondent in tho London "Times" of. some of. tho openings for educated woman workers under county councils" and other municipal bodies in England. Women appointed as school medical officers are fully qualified doctors, holding, also a diploma, in public health and special experience in tho treatment; of the diseases of children.' The salaries for whole time work arc about £250 per annum. Some part time, posts are also available—salaries about .£l5O. Assistant school ■ doctors are also employed, who act under the direction of tho oouncil's medical* officer in allotted districts, givo a part of their time to the work, and receive salaries of £120 to .£l5O. ■' . . School nurses have been appointed in increasing numbers.' . They must hold a certificate of three years' hospital training, and must possess experience'in dealing with skin diseases. Salary about i;SO to- .too, with uniform. • ' School attendance officers now include a number of women. No definite, standard of training is demanded, but obviously experience of the industrial life'of tho district and considerable patience and tact in dealing with difficult people arc essential. There is an elementary educational test,. and candidates must submit to a medical examination, and be. between 25 and 35 years of age. Salaries froqi about <£60 to .iilCO. ,

Superintendents and matrons of training colleges .or resident 'schools under county- councils are from time to tijrn-s require*!. : Here it ,is impossible to give in detail the necessary qualifications; but, speaking generally, three years', hospital training, experience in organising a large establishment, arid in the management of staff, etc., would be required. Salaries would, of conrsc, vary according to the size 'of the place, but would .not be likely to exceed JblOO, with beard, lodging, washing, and medical attendance . . The recent development of; children's care committees has called for a number pf specially Qualified women as organisers and assistants. The work of these ooniniittces .is extremely varied/but consists chiefly in carrying out the regulations of the Provision of Meals Act, by which necessitous «nd under-fed children are provided with-' free meals .during, periods in which their parents .are un,able to give; them proper,nourishment; and also in seeing that the directions of the school medical inspector are adequately carried out by the parents. The necessary qualifications are experience, tact, and sympathy in dealing with difficult people/a knowledge of the Poor •Law,.-.where'it touches" on' the-'.condition of children, "find considerable organising, ability. Much of the work is done' by* voluntary workers, but excellent posts aro to be had as organisers at a salary •of about il2o per annum. ... Women sanitary inspectors are. appointed by borough'council's-and city corporations. The qualifications jieccssary, aro the sanitary inspector's diploma, . some hospital training, arid often n diploma in midwifery. The salaries commence at £70 or )£BO in. .the provinces and £100 in London, rising to >2150, and in exceptional cases to .£IBO and £200. Assistant sanitary • inspectors are also employed, who as a rule must hold" thesame qualifications as, the . above, .but' need not possess similar ! experience. . Tho work of health visitors is at present it mucli-dcbated question; ar-1 ono cannot give any very., clear outline, of what is demanded, as the qualifications are constantly altering .with' the ideas of rach appointing .. council. The Local Government Board,, in an order recently issued, ; mentions that a period of six months' training in a hospital or iri.firmary, together : with'the,.certificate of the Royal Sanitary. Institute for health; • visitors, qualifies for appointment. Recently in several'cases a" certificate, for maternity nursing ; has been required. Salaries 'commence at about £15, to rise to .£IOO or .£l2O. . .• '• . j . A , number of womeri are employed as managers of municipal milk depots. Salaries are usually about .£loo.' Superintendents of schools jfor 'mothers are m some instances appointed 'by public_ bodies. Hero a thorough knowledge of the management and feeding ,of. infants is essential, with a gift-for dealing happily with difficult people and experience m organising. Tho salaries ■ rango from £100 to £150. ■ • Organisers or inspectors of special department's in County Council work—such, for instance, as . tho trade schools—obtain salaries of £300 to £500 a year.