PENSIONS FOR NURSES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1798, 10 July 1913, Page 6

PENSIONS FOR NURSES.

TRIBUTE TO A NOBLE PRO.

FESSION.

SPEECH BY HON, R. H. RHODES. Speaking at the official opening of tho Nurses' Residential Club yesterday,', tlio Hon. It. Hoaton Rhodes (Minister for Public Health and Hospitals) saidlt was liis liopo and desire to mako nursing in tho public hospitals mioro attructivo to tho rank and file of tho profession. It was pleasing to him to know that many cxcellont nurses' homes, with many of.tho comforts of a home, had been, erected by i.ii 0 authorities of our larger hospitals, tho dietary for nurses had been improved, and measures taken to afford them relaxation when off duty. The Eight-Hour System,

Continuing,' tho Minister said:-"Whc-tlier tho cignt-hours' system has been an unqualified success is a matter for you to say, but, personally, I believe it would be better for the patieut, better for the institutions concerned, and certainly better tor tho nurses, if tho hours of duty were somewhat longer, provided that compensatory leavo could be given, so Us to ulluw nurses an occasional week-end free from duty, m order that they could get a tuotougk change in their own homes or tho homes of their friends. Then, again. I would Ijlce to arrange it so- that competout nurses in our public hospitals could bo brought under some ecliomo that would provide assured promotion. Tho lack of some such system is, to my mind, ono of tho chief drawbacks to nurses in our public institutions. _ "When a nurse has iinished her courso m a hospital,, and qualified by examination, theru are two courses open to her— either to remain' on the permanent staff of tho hospital.or .embark on private nursing. Unfortunately, even for tho most competent nurses, there is not always room in a hospital for a position on tho permanent stall'; but, if -hospital boards would only combine,, it might be possible to provido every competent nurso with a position on tho permanent stall' of ono or other of our public hospitals. I know of several excellent nurses whoso services have been lost to our public hospitals from lack of opportunity to show, their abilities, and 1 hope during my tenure of office to do moro than a little to rectify what I consider one of tho chief weaknesses of tho present system. Pensions for Nurses. "Then, again, thoro is tho question of pensions for nurses. I need hardly say I am (juito in sympathy with a scliemo that will allow nurses to retire ou pensions aftor a term of years at public or private nursing. The wear and tear of nursing is indeed groat, and a nurse should bo ablo to look forward to a' small competenco that will assist Tier in her declining years. lam considering such a scheme in connection with tho National Provident Fund Act. In tho meantime I would ask members to study this Act, for I beliovo that though it may need some amendment to provide for nurses *nd the employees of a hospital,' the Act las it stands may well bo taken advantage of by persons who aro not in receipt of wioro than ,£2OO per year." In conclusion, the Minister said ho . knew well, from what ho learned from the reports of his Department, of the splendid service rendered by district and other nurses, that tho profession is still' actuated by tho noble instincts which in tho past have encouraged its members to faco tho difficulties and dangers of flood and field. Sorno of tho finest members of t'ho sex were to bo found in tho rauk and file of the nursing profession.