DOMESTIC STAFF CRISIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21961, 4 March 1946, Page 4

DOMESTIC STAFF CRISIS

MARLBOROUGH BOARD (P.A.) BLENHEIM. March 2. The domestic staff crisis resulting from the lifting of the declarations of essentiality became acute in the Marlborough Hospital Board’s institutions yesterday. At Holmdalc Maternity Home the whole domestic staff left and the home is now being staffed by Women’s Institute volunteers. At the nurses’ home at the Wairau Hospital nine of the 11 domestics left. Volunteers are meeting this demand. At the Wairau Hospital itself there have been no defections, but the hospital has been contending with a serious staff shortage tor many months, and there is no sign of the position being relieved. At a largely-attended meeting of 22 women’s organisations yesterday, convened by the Red Cross Society, it was agreed to make every effort to provide relief staffs. The»machinery was established to work on the basis of three-hour shifts from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.