PAY FOR NURSES.

Shannon News, 15 September 1925, Page 3

PAY FOR NURSES.

MU MURDOCH SUPPORTS INCREASE. A letter received at the meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday, from Mr \V. Murdoch, a member, who recently was an inmate of tlie hospital, expressed a desire tiiat the hoard consider a suggestion by Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., that the ipay of nurses he increased. Mr Murdoch, who is convalescing from his lengthy illness, apologised for his unavoidable absence from tire hoard meeting on that account, and stated that, after being for .over four weeks a patient at the hospital, his eyes had been opened to the daily life of the nurses. “I have come to the conclusion,” he stated, “that in no class of work where women are engaged are the duties so arduous and s.o .poorly paid for. If an increase in their pay is not granted before 1 can again attend a meeting of the Boat'd I will throw some light on the daily toil of those devoted women at the first meeting at which I am present, “I am sure that, if all the people who pav rates to the hospital knew the extent of the self-sacrifice and devotion of these women, they tvould not grudge what they pay. 1 have to express my deep gratitude-to. the doctors and nurses of the hospital for the attention I have received.” The letter concluded with .best wishes to the secretary and members of the board. The chairman (Sir James' Wilsonj said that the idea had been that the matter of increased puv should he considered next year as the board was going to be rather “tight fitted in the matter of finance. Mr Nash was not present and there was no motion before the board. He, therefore, suggested that, the matter be held over until Mr Murdoch was present. At the -same time, he fully recognised the value of the work of the nurses. It was decided to. defer consideration as suggested.