PROBATIONERS IN HOSPITALS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 1, 26 September 1918, Page 6

PROBATIONERS IN HOSPITALS

(To tho Editor.) Sir,—l have to thank the chairman' of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for tho information he gives in your issue of September 19. There are still one or two points that I would like to have information about. For instance, tho chairman says that free uniforms are supplied. My information is that probationers have to supply aprons and ward shoes, quite an item in these times. As regards board and lodging, that he rather stresses, any domestic servant gets these in addition to the wages. Another point ho rajses is that years ago a premium had to' bo paid. This was so with many callings, but I beliovc in this country tho lato Mr. Scddon interested himself when Premier in having these matters put on a fairer footing. Ido not think tho board would argue that they would return to that practice. The reason that tho young ladies themselves do not ask for more, possibly is that they may havo heard of Oliver Twist asking for more from charitable boards, mid noted tho reception he" sot. Ono further point is that if £20 per'annum was before the wai , considered fair remuneration it could hardly be considered so now when all clothintr, particularly cotton goods, are so dear. Tho purchasing power of a sovereign is possibly not more than 12s. to-day, which means that tlir> £20 is reduce! to £12. Finally, I think that no girl enn take up the nosition of probationer unless her people subsidise her salary, :fi?o not lioinfr a living .watte in these times, and that being so. it prevents rtnuchtfirs of people who aro not in a position to do so taking up nursing as a rirnfwsion. O n l mii'ors. nnlicwnen, and practically all employees have re-foii-orl " ivnr bonus. Is there nuy good and sufficient reason why probationers should not?—l am, etc., INQUIRER.,