LABOUR’S

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 184, 2 May 1931, Page 8

LABOUR’S

Women Candidates Speak Mrs. R. Mitchell, a candidate for the - Hospital Board, speaking at the Tredes Hall yesterday afternoon, expressed disapproval' at the attitude of the Health Department and thh Minister Of: Health in practically ordering the Wellington Hospital Board to reduce its estimates by nearly £15,000. At a time like the present, she contended, the boanl-should rather increase its estimates.'-The oeed for a maternity ward at- the hospital was urgent.- Hundreds’Of families were being evicted, and ‘ the Hospital Board and the Government should face up to this terrible fact. c Mrs. R. Ml ColHnk a candidate for the Hospital Board, said that if elated she would endeavour 'to , remedy defects in the hospital, which, according to Civic -League candidates, existed after many years of Civic League administration. She considered that the employment ■Of a fully-qualified. residential staff would . be a great improvement. There should ■ . be a more sympathetic consideration of,the question of patients’ fees-during the present hard times. - ■. ■ - . • Mrs G E. Love, another candidate . for the Hospital Board, said that never had there been greater need toy. wise and sympathetic administration of social welfare relief than at the present time.. There was need for a maternity ward, and no necessity to economise by reducing the wages of the nurses and the lower-paid employees. Mrs M. J. Bentley advocated the establishment of a maternity ward at the hospital The worry, anxiety and Hardship caused to many prospective .mothers at the present time through lack of adequate maternity provision, the candidate maimed, was not creditable to the community. She was in favour of a fully-quahhed residential staff. -The work of the social welfare committee would be increased during the winter, and it was necessary _ that women who understood what the struggle in the average workers home was like should be' elected to the b °Mrs. S. E. O. Snow, a candidate for • • the City Council and Hospital Board, considered that it was far more important .at the present time to keep wages at their preesnt level than to bring rates down a few pence. Sne contended that there had been a great deal of waste, in connection with the Northland tunnel aud the widening of Taranaki Street and Bond Street. The City Council would be all .the better for the co-operation of sensible women with capable men.