ST. HELENS HOSPITALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1940, Page 8

ST. HELENS HOSPITALS

WAGES OF PROBATIONERS. POSITION BEING REVIEWED. “The whole question of the allowances is being reviewed,” said the Minister of Health, Mr Armstrong, replying to an urgent question asked in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr Denham (Government, Invercargill) concerning the wages of probationary nurses at St Helens Hospitals. Mr Denham drew the attention of the Minister to a recent published report that such nurses received wages of £26 a year, and asked if he would take immediate steps to increase the amount. “When the St Helens Hospitals were established it was the practice to charge trainees a premium for the training given them in maternity work,” Mr Armstrong said. “Later the charging of a premium was abandoned. Trainees were given free board and lodging, but no salary was paid. “These arrangements were continued till 1936, when the Government decided to follow the system which had become general among hospital boards of paying a small allowance to all trainees. As from October 1, 1936. the Government paid trainees in St Helens hospitals at the rate of £25 a year and, in addition, has continued to supply to them free board and lodging. It is recognised that the introduction of the social security tax has substantially reduced the amount paid.”