WOMEN WANTED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 5, 1 October 1943, Page 6

WOMEN WANTED

Hospital Board Chairman’s

Plea For Staff

“TOO MANY IN UNIFORM”

“Wc want women.” said Mr. I’’. Castle, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, at 'last night's meeting when he pointed out. that of the 2SO persons required. including 100 probationer nurses, to staff adequately the board’s institutions only 17 were men. There, was much talk about 'manpower, he added, but what about woman power. Mr. D. F. Toogood: Ileal womanpower, not “lady-power.” Mr. Castle said that to those whose responsibilities required them to examine the position, it was obvious that womanpower bad been too freely absorbed. Women should be released from the forces to keep the home 'fires (burning. In (Palmerston North he had seen little evidence of the (warfare with which. New Zealand was concerned*- —there was a large number of servicewomen, but an absence of soldiers. 'Possibly Wellington, as the administrative centre, had' established' a state of affairs which could not easily be broken away from. ( Miss A. Kane said they had an assurance at an interview with the Minister of Manpower, Mr. McLagan. that if accommodation could (be found (by the board the services of 50 women could ibe made available. There were far too many women in uniform, said Mr. Toogood. No improvement could be expected till some of the present nonsense 'was knocked hard ; till the “showy” part had been wiped out and a comb-out made. Miss I. Cable considered- it ridiculous for women in pairs to be driving round in cars delivering telegrams. The great shortage of staff was apparent to patients, who were doing all they could to help themselves, said ‘Mrs. Knox Gilmer. Mr. G. IPetherick said that an elderiv man just discharged from hospital told him that day concerning the treatment received -that “splendid is the word.” Others had spoken similarly. The (board decided to thank the staff for its effort?.