MISS HOWARD SAYS SHE IS ‘STILL WAITING’.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 5

MISS HOWARD SAYS SHE IS ‘STILL WAITING’.

((P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Speaking on the Health Department vote in the House of Representatives today, Mr M. H. Oram (Opposition, Manawatu) said he thought much of the wastage which occurred in' the training of nurses could be avoided by more prudent and careful selection of trainees. The department’s report said that 30 per cent, of those who did not complete their training resigned through ill-health, unsuitability or inability to reach the examination standard.

Mr J. K. McAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn) urged more/ liberal treatment of nurses in regard to night leave from nurses’ homes. Nurses, who were responsible people, were expected to be back in the home every night at 11 p.m. except on leave night. This was something which most members would not ask of their own daughters, if they went to a party or a dance. Mr Oram: They can get special leave.

Mr A. E. Armstrong (Government, Napier): Or go in through a window.

" “Only Until 3 a.m." Mr McAlpine said the trouble was that special leave was usually granted only once each week and then in most cases only until 3 a.m. The worst thing was that if a nurse after, attending a dance wasmot back in the home by 3 a.m. she was locked out and where could she go them? She must spend the night out until she was admitted to the home at 6 a.m. Was that a reasonable restriction for any hospital board to impose? To insist on the observance of such outmoded restrictions was asking for trouble. It was morally wrong to exclude girls from their home at such an hour.

Miss Howard said she agreed with Mr Oram that there was a wastage of nurses, but she did not agree that there should be any interference when a nurse wanted to get married, nor did she agree that when a .woman was getting married she was wasting herself. “I’m still waiting,” she added amid laughter..

Minister’s “Confession”

“I wouldn’t agree that girls should be shut out when they come home at three o’clock in the morning,” said Miss Howard, replying to Mr McAlpine. She said she had every sympathy with the girls who stayed out until three o’clock in the morning. “I have done it myself,” she said. Mr W. S: Goosman (Oppn, Piako): The longest way round is the sweetest way home. A Government voice: You ought to know. Miss Howard said she would examine the situation and see if something couldn’t be done “to leave a little door open.” Mr R. MacDonald (Oppn, Ponsonby): They get up fire escapes, too. Miss Howard: I know. I have done it myself. . An Opposition member: What is this—a’ confession?