NURSES' SALARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 174, 22 January 1914, Page 6

NURSES' SALARIES.

QUKSTIOX OP UNIFORMITY. At the meeting of the Xc\v Plymouth Hospital lioard yesterday, a circular letter was received from Dr. Valiutine (Jnspoctor-(ifiieral of Hospitals) dealing with the mutter of nurses' salaries, lie stated that enquiries having rmmgtu to light the diversity of pay for simi.lar positions ill dill'erent liospitals, it had been suggested that a scale of pay should he drawn up proportionate lo the size of the hospital and o,ther circumstances, as it was felt that this would allay any friction among the nursing profession, lie. pointed out, however, that the matter was a dillicult one. .in view of the numerous factors contributing to the payment of salaries in various hospitals. The rate could not be according to size, for in some small hospitals the matron would have to do more work and under less congenial conditions than was the ease in larger hospitals. Then, too, the reputations of certain hospitals was so good and the experience to be gained there so great that an ambitious nurse would often prefer to work there for less pay than in other institutions of more limited scope. lie did not tliink it would lie possible to have a uniform scale of' salaries for hospitals unless all were under one control, lie appended a scale of salaries which had been suggested.

, The chairman remarked Unit everything was working satisfactorily at the Xew Plymouth Hospital, and if other hospitals could not arrange their sal■aries salisl'actoi'ih', that was nothing to do with the Board. ! Air. .\lcl!eynolds remarked that if any iimr-i's should be well paid, those of the New Plymouth Hospital should be. The chairman pointed out that there were no complaints made as to salaries, and there were plenty of applicants for positions as probationers. All'. .1. Ilrown remarked I hat niir-es at the New Plymouth Hospital had the advantage of good experience, and in applying for other positions had the bcnelit. of the good reputation which the Hospital enjoyed. Xo action was taken.