KARITANE TRAINING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27442, 31 August 1954, Page 13

KARITANE TRAINING

Sir,—Why is it that of all training a girl can go in for, Karitane Is the only one for which a lump sum of money has to be paid, no wages paid and no uniforms provided? Nursing, dental nursing, training college, typists, office girls, shop girls, etc., are all paid wages from the beginning; uniforms are provided and no money' demanded for their training. No wonder Karitane is a career for the welloff, and no wonder there are so few of these very necessary nurses. We in New Zealand are proud of our Plunket system and Karitane hospitals, but there It ends. The system falls short when it trains only those who can pay. Many would go in for this training, but cannot afford it There will always be babies and this training should be made attractive and applicable to alj; and what better training for any girl?—Yours, etc., FREE FOR ALL. August <l9, 1954. [When this letter was referred to the president of the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society (Mrs Janet Williams), she said all training, whether professional or business training er training in industry, had to be paid for by someone, i.e., by the individual concerned or by the taxpayer, or through the cost of goods to the general public. The only way in which all Karitane nurses’ could be provided with free training would be through Government assistance, which is not available at the present time. The society does grant a number of bursaries which provide the recipients with free training and some payment during training 1