RAILWAY PASSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 69, 19 September 1944, Page 4

RAILWAY PASSES

Sir,—l would like to congratulate the New Zealand Disabled Soldiers' Free Society for taking up the matter of free railway passes for the wives of disabled soldiers who are 100 per cent, permanently incapacitated. Surely a man in that category is in need of assistance when he is travelling, and in many cases the finding of even one fare is more than can be managed. These men and their wives are not going to spend their time riding round on trains, but, it would mean a lot to know they were able to travel when necessary. Hoping the Government will see its way clear to grant the concession suggested.—l am, etc.,

WIFE OF TOTALLY DISABLED SOLDIER.

SPIRIT OF NURSING

Sir, —It was accidental that a meeting of nurses in the Wellington Hospital should be held a day following the statements made by Mr. Clyde Carr and the Prime Minister on the Bill affecting nurses now before the. House. The meeting of nurses was called to discuss the pros and cons of unionism, and came as the result of years of discontent.

Mr. Carr, in his statement in the House, expressed the mind of nurses who had approached him as their member for some organisation other than the Registered Nurses' Association. How can a registered nurse go to the meeting of the association and (ventilate grievances and injustices to women who are sisters and supervisors in her hospital, and who are in exactly the same relation as an employer to | a worker, and who can, report to the fountain head any criticisms made? No nurse would be fool enough to do it; and that brings me to the real reason for discontent among nurses. Only a very few blessed women can wield authority impartially and without asperity to younger women; the others make life for nurses almost unbearable. Every nurse at some time or other suffers the most humiliating experience of being dressed down in front of patients; to others the exact placing of a bed castor is of fundamental importance. The older women do not begin as teachers where the tutor sister leaves off, and this close sympathy between sister nurses in the science of healing has yet to be developed. • Moses the prophet knew what he was doing when he led his people into the wilderness for forty years before he could lead them into the Promised Land. Two generations had to die off, and so it is with nurses. The older women brought up with iron discipline, putting up with intolerable hours, afraid to speak up or to answer back, have to give place to women of independent thought and forward vision, who can give devoted service without this weight on their spirit; because this devotion is inspired by the share in the success .a nurse feels every time she sees death retreat from the bedside of disease'or accident.

It is up to • nurses now to use the organisation now existing fearlessly, and to justify Mr. Fraser's contention that the association guards the interests of nurses. First and foremost must be established the fact that tuberculosis for nurses is an occupational disease, and that nurses occupied with it shall be given every possible protection, ample days off, and extra holidays, and that where infection takes place compensation shall be paid by employing authorities, as occurs in the mining and other industries.

I would describe myself as a nurse who does not feel of different flesh and blood from maids and porters, who all help in the common cause.—l am etc.,

A NURSE

Sir, —There has ben much controversy regarding the formation of a union for nurses. It is to be regretted that owing to lack of co-operation trom the senior members of the staff a number of nurses from a large New Zealand hospital were forced to consider forming a union. A meeting for all members of the nursing staff was held to discuss the pro and cons of union or association. The speaker for the Registered Nurses' Association gave an excellent address, stressing the splendid work done by the association how the standard of nursing has been raised, and the living conditions for nurses improved. Owing to the rionappearanee of the union speaker the ardent young unionists were not fairly represented. It is to be hoped that th« Registered Nurses' Association will strengthen and that the standard of nursing which is" already high will maintain that level and even rise to greater heights. The living conditions for nurses could be further improved and a better medical service made available for sick nurses. Hats off to those nurses who in the interest of their profession and desiring improved conditions for present and future nurses arranged and had this meeting in the face of much criticism and opposition fronrmany of their lethargic colleagues We do not want a union, but more support from the senior members of our profession.—l am, etc.

YOUNG REGISTERED NURSE,