SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1387, 13 March 1912, Page 9

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

A Bell Block Wodding. A very pretty wedding took place [it Bell .Block, Tiiranaki, at St Luke's Church, on llutrsday, Starch 7, when Miss Ida Gertrude Bishop, eldest daughter i-f Mr. and All's. 11. T. Bishop, of Egmont Koad, was married to Mr. Iral. Liddle, of Johnsonv)U<>, Wellington. Tho bride, who was Riven away by her father, wore iv gown of chiffon taffetas, with a veil and wreath of orange blossoms, and she carried a bouquet. She was attended by MisMyrtlo Bishop (chief bridesmaid). Miss lncy Bowles, and Miss Vita Bishop. Tho chief bridesmaid wore a frock oi striped ninon, trimmed with cream insertion and a heliotrope hat. -Miss Inez Bowles was in cream cashmere, braided, with a cream hat with pink roses. Mis; Vita Bishop (the other bridesmaid) worr white silk and a blue silk bonnet. The bridegroom's gift to the bridn was a gold ring, and to the bridesmaid was given t gold sapphire with pearl pendants. The Kev. Mr. Kempthorne oliicjated, and the service was choral, Mrs. Ueorge playing the organ. Mrs. Liddle travelled iji a grey tweed costume, and a black picture hat. Yet Another One! Another ccnsor has appeared on tin scene. Mr. Solomon J. Solomon, tin lioyal Academician, tells us the artists ol I'aris are deploring what English artist: have long deplored—the ungraceful moderr dress of women. They call it the "lost feminine line." Mr. Solomon roundl> condemns the ungainly tight skirt, one sighs for the stately Du Maurier women He forgets for the monient that Di Maurier made them all' tuii. Nurses and their Hours. In connection with the eight-hour dai question for nurses in hospitals, tho Lon don "Nursing Times," in referring t< tho resolution which was passed, at tin conference of hospital boards in New Zea land, to the effect that all hospitals ii the Dominion should he asked for theii views, expressed tho hope that weigh will bo given to tho opinion, not only o the hospital authorities and tho matrons but to those of the nurses themselves, am a careful estimate made as to the effect o: tho present regulations upon the genera health of the nursing stalf. That, thi "Nursing Times" considers, is one of tin most important of the questions mule consideration, but tho point was hardl; touched upon at the conference. Touching tho disadvantages of a three fold (shift, the "Nursing Times" re marks:— "Tho larger staff of nurses means in creased expense of administration, am there is the thcory'that sick peonle suite from constant ehango of nttenifant. I is also said that the nurses have mor< to- get through ill the shorter number o hours, tliougli it is a little difficult to se how this can bo supported by any logica chain of argument. Tho amount of wor to be got through in 24 hours must remai: the same. The difference is that thre people divide it between them instead <J two, and if tho division of the work i systematically earned out precisely tli same round of duties will automatical! fall to the sharo of the three during an cycle of weeks or months. Another poin made by those who oppose the eight-hou day is that, being a snorter time 011 dub the nurses get less benefit from tho teac! ing, and that a longer course of trainin would therefore bo necessary. It mus not, however, bo forgotten that the lon hours of hospital nurses do not owe thei origin to any need for them on lb nurses' part, but to the fact that hospita' had to get as much work as they coul out of as few nurses as possible 011 a< count of expense. The argument quote would not be allowed to apply for 01 moment to any other profession. "Against the disadvantages, again, tlici is to be set the lessened strain 011 tl physical* strength of-the nurses, for whic experience shows there is great need, would certainly seem premature to jud[ of results at all after a sis months' 0: periment. Many of the reasons adduce m favour of a nominal twelve-hour dr must strike tho impartial critic as d eidedly insufficient. As, for instance, tli; 'young nurses for the first time away fro n guarded home would be for many hou away from supervision antl with 110 occ pation, and it is not unlikely that in son cases this freedom would not bo ve profitably employed.' It is time th women old enough to be in hospitals at t should be regarded as reasonable being not as school children. "The harmful effect upon, the patie is, perhaps, an objection more difficult meet, but if the work is carried out ( identical lines, and, as in a hospital war under the supervision of the same head, hardly seems rcascinablo to suppose tli this could bo the case to any ex ten special cases would require to bo met I special arrangements. In any case, can be no true wisdom to sacrifice a wlic class of workers to a problematical bene to the sick,' the change has been fear chiefly on account of tho prejudice custom and traditions."