The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1896.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 202, 27 August 1896, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1896.

fir the cauoo that lacks assistanos, For the wrcras that ooads resiatinoe, i'cr the faturD in the distauco. _id the quod tliat -wa can ao.

The success which attended the Hospital Bail last night should secure for this function a place among the popular annual events of our city. The added comforts which the money thus obtained will bring to a number of earnest women who have devoted their lives to the care of the sick is perhaps the least of the gains that will accrue from this source. Much more precious to them is the interest and sympathy of which the large gathering at the Choral Hall was a token, and we beIlieve that these feelings will find expression in many other ways from persons who have hitherto rarely given a thought to the arduous labours of I our hospital staff.

A few months ago, when several of the nurses were prostrated with typhoid fever, and others were almost broken down by over-work, we raised the I question whether it would not be possible to introduce here, as in Wellington, the eight hours system. Objections were raised to it at the time on the ground of increased cost. j The statement was aiso made that the nurses themselves were satisfied with the present hours, so long ss the arrangements for holiday leave provided for under the regulations were carried j out. Whether- this is so or not we have no means o( knowing, but we do know that, owing to absences through illnesses, nurses could not get the holidays they were entitled to. We hope that this hardship bo longer exists. With regard to the * eight hour system lor nurses, much difference o' opinion prevails, as was strikingly shown in Melbourne recently. Attention having been drawn in the Victorian Parliament to the fact that hosnital nurses worked from 10 to 151^ hours a day, a clause was inserted in the Factory Act bringing hospitals under its provisions so iar as 10 secure an <?*ght hours day for hospital employees. As a hospital could not be called a "factory" the I clause was struck out on the Premier j promising that he would impose conditions regarding the allocation of the vote which would carry out the wishes of '■ the Legislative Assembly. Accordingly the Colonial Treasurer issued a notification to the various governing bodies of the Victorian hospitals that in allocating the charitable vote he intended to attach a. new condition that hospitals and kindred institutions participating in the "vote should adopt the eight hours principle in regard to" their nursing staff.

This notice caused something approaching to dismay amongst the hospital committees throughout Victoria, and a representative deputation waited on the Premier a week or two ago to urge its withdrawal. In.the course of the discussion at the interview it was stated that no complaint had been made by the hospital servants that they were overworked; in fact, they were perfectly satisfied with the present condition of things, and did not wish any alteration. Moreover, the managing bodies of charitable institutions considered that they should not be trammelled in their work by outside bodies, and least of ail by politicians. It was shewn that the nurses in the Melbourne Hospital worked on an average about ioj£ hours per day, and in the Alfred Hospital n)4 hours, and if the Treasurer insisted on his condition- it would necessitate three nurses being employed where two were now engaged, thus increasing the expeaditure at a time when the Government endowment was less and public subscriptions had fallen off. Falling increased financial aid from the Government; it was stated that it the Treasurer's condition were insisted upon it would mean a reduction of 20 per cent, in the number of beds, which would fall very heavily both on the sick and the poor. The Rev. Mr M'Miilan, president of the Hamilton Hospital, said the provincial hospitals were unanimously opposed to the eight hours' system tor hospital nurses.

The Premier found himself placed in something of a dilemma by this opposition. He said, however, that "the only tangible objection to his proposal was that it would increase the expenditure, ana as a set-off against that he would say the Government iotended introducing a Charities Bill, which, by compelling those who could afford it te subscribe to those institutions, would place at their disposal ample funds to carry out the noble and important work they were doing. He would not say he would withdraw the condition, but he would not enforce it for another six months, so as to give the nurses an opportunity of placing their view of the case before him." And so the matter stands at present.

We agree with the Premier of Vie toria that the objection of increased cost is a most inadequate reason for overvyorking public servants. The same excuse has been urged over and over again by private employers, but it is put forward in vain as a defence in actions instituted under the Factory Act or the Shops Act. Nursing appears to us .a particularly wearing an-i exhausting occupation, and. io cr n hours of daily duty in such acalling is, we think, altogether too long. On the other hand the initiation of reform must.com.e,.from..the workers wbo, i( ar.e affected, and strange to say, ihe probationer nurses in the Women's Hospital, Melbourne, in a, report to the Committee, said—" We.feel that the eight hours system, if compulsory, would deprive us of -considerable experience by the end of the year's term." The Premier of Victoria has now formally invited the nurses to make, known their views upon the subject, and the result will be awaited with considerable interest. •..-:■