THEY GET MARRIED!

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 22, 25 July 1940, Page 8

THEY GET MARRIED!

TRAINING OF GIRLS

TEACHERS AND DENTAL NURSES

When the Education Department's Vote was under consideration in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Government, Oamaru), said that there was a vote of £136,700 for allowances and advances to training college students. There had been a time when the students were compelled to enter into a bond to undertake a certain period of service, but difficulties had arisen when young women married before the term expired. Mr. Nordmeyer said it was necessary to conserve public funds in respect to expenditure on girls who married soon after their training was completed. In reply to an interjection from the Government benches, Mr. Nordmeyer said he did not blame the young women for marrying, many of them being most attractive, buihe did think that where the State had spent thousands of pounds on training young people. something should be done to see that they gave an adequate return for the money spent. "A WASTE OF MONEY.." The question was asked by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton), during discussion of the Health Departs ment's Vote, whether there was any record showing the percentage of girls who, on completing their - training, in the school dental service, soon afterwards left the service to be married. Mr. Kyle said he believed the percentage was high and that it was a waste of money to train the girls up to a high standard of efficiency and then find them suddenly leave to get married. In his opinion there were a lot of young men who should be doing the work. Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Strat-. ford): Goodness, why shouldn't the girls marry? Mr. Kyle said he admitted that it was the natural thing for them to do, yet at the same time it cost the country a lot to train them. Men could be doing the same job. An Opposition member: The&r would get married, too. Mr. Kyle: Yes, but they would retain their positions. The Minister of Health (the Hon. H.j T. Armstrong) said that a record had not been kept of the girls who left to be married. He did not think that itj would be suggested that a law should be introduced to prevent them from marrying. After all, others were being trained to take their places, and those who left to be married could start miniature dental, clinics inside their own homes.