INCREASED SALARIES FOR NURSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1920, Page 4

INCREASED SALARIES FOR NURSES.

The subject of adequately remunerating liospital nurses has been under consideration for some length of time, it being generally admitted that they were underpaid for the nature of the duties they have to perform. With a view to having the matter placed on a- satisfactory footing throughout the Dominion, it was arranged to hold a conference of representatives of hospital boards to fix a scheme of payment applicable throughout the Dominion, but the absence of Dr. Valintine necessitated the postponement of the date of the conference. The Taranaki Board has at last taken action on the matter without waiting for the conference, and tills attion should meet with general approval. In the scheme of revised pay which a committee of the Board has framed, increases have been made involving a total of over £3OO a year, the salaries of the juniors receiving special attention. The committee do not appear to have been influenced by the scale recently issued by the Department, which, in some cases, was lower than the rate already paid at New Plymouth. It is satisfactory to find that the committee has shown due sympathy with what is due to the nurses, and has sanctioned increases that are long overdue. No class of women are more deserving of liberal treatment than hospital nurses, and as the standard of zeal, efficiency and anthusiasin has always been high at the local hospital, it is only right that the salaries should be raised to a level more nearly approaching the value of those services than has been the case hitherto. The Board deserves commendation for its progressive action, the more so on account of its intention to fall into linewith the decision of the conference when arrived at. It was only right that the increases should be retrospective as from the first day of the current year, and tjough the nurses have in the past cheerfilly and thoroughly carried out their work to the entire satisfaction of the public, the increased rate of pay will doubtless be as welcome as it is appropriate.