WOMEN’S NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 162, 12 June 1925, Page 7

WOMEN’S NOTES.

An exchange reports that Miss Molhe Strar g (Mauterton) returned this week from a visit to Melbourne, and is taking up h >r residence in Palmerston North.

Ap; .reciation of the services of Miss Kate Smitl, who for 33 years has been a teacher unde] the Taranaki Education Board, was placei on record at the monthly meeting of the 1 oard on Wednesday, and hopes were expre sed for a long and happy retirement.

Mi: i M. C. Hanron, masseuse at the Palm srston North Hospital, has tendered her esignation in view of her intended depai turo for Gisborne. Miss Asher, of the f ime department, has also resigned. Siste K. Gallagher, of the Prince of Waleward, and Miss S. M. McGinley, nigh! sister, have likewise tendered their resig lations.

Mi: s Preston Stanley, the only woman succe sful at the N.S,W. elections, who conic ited Eastern Suburbs, has, according to a Sydney paper, a gift of words which, when she gets on to the floor of the House, will mobably startle quite a number of men ,vho have been talking there for years. She >we» her election to ner far-reaching publi :ity, her business ability, her genuine enthi siasm—often for subjects that do not mear. vote-catching, her fine speaking voice and ier impressive personality. She has been for years keerdy interested in all subjects pertaining to women. Even Psehiatry las her deep interest, and she knows moro about psychology than she does about iaazii g. She has made a habit of collecting ] residentships SCOTTISH SOCIETY’S INGLESIDE. Thi first ingleside of the Scottish Society i ’as held in the Foresters’ Hall last night and was the occasion for an enthusiastic gathering of Scots. The evening was spent in music and song, while Scottish douni ry dances were indulged in by a large number. Mr Reaburn was M.C. Durii g the winter it is the intention of the s iciety to hold the gatherings once a mont i.

PAYMENT OF NURSES. INCREASE SUGGESTED, ACTION DEFERRED. ,A di eussion on nurses’ salaries took place at. th: meeting of tho Palmerston North llospi :al Board yesterday, consequent on a inotioi moved by Mr J. A. Nasn that the snlari, s of nurses be increased by £lO for each rf the first three years. In speaking to his motion, Mr Nash stated that, according to the regulations, each nurse should not be required to attend more than three patients, but for some time past they had been carrying a great* r load than tho regulations permitted and lid been doing excellent service. Accordii g to tho present scale, nlirses received £3O f ir the first year, £4O for tho second, £SO f >r the third and £7O for the fourth, and u are, under the terms of their contract, requi) ?d to complete their time. However, some boards were not no* observing such rates, and had increased the salary by £lO over the first three years. It was true, addet the speaker, that the nurses were learni ig a profession which would enable them to obtain a good living later, but they were lerving humanity, and the board might well >e generous enough to show their appreci: tion by granting the increase, which wouii entail an increased expenditure of £3BO per annum. While he recognised that the I. embers of the board were representative ( f the various local bodies, he felt certain hat the latter would not take exception o any increase.

Sir James Wilson, in stating that ho was in fu 1 accord with tho suggestion, pointed out t tat the scale of salaries had been in accor lance with an arrangement arrived at by v .rious boards and agreed to by the Gove ninent. Some boards had, however, inore; sed their rates, and without doubt Palm -rston North would have to followsuit i i order to obtain a sufficiency of probatioi ers.

Mr: L. A. Abrnhain spoke in appreciative terms of the tiring calls made upon nurses, while Mr Murdoch drew attention to the fact hat ho had moved in such direction two < r three year 3 ago. Mr Vincent, while maintaining that he was i ot opposed to the motion, remarked that t must be recognised that after all it was ally one party who paid for it—the ratep yer. Mr Bramwell spoke in similar strain, regrett ng that, the matter had not been broiq ht forward before the estimates were prep. red. It had, nevertheless, been a mista co on tho part of tho conference in not rging an increase in patients’ fees. The * ost per patient, continued tho speaker, was :5s per day, whereas the individual patiei t was only charged 9s per da}', and if the p itient was in a position to pay the full amor it he should be required to do so. It. w s wrong of such a person to accept chari y to such an extent. Mr Monk held that the matter should be defer ed in order that time be given for its c .nsideration, more jiarticularly as tho cstin: ites had already been framed. He accor lingly moved as an nmendrtient. that, nltho gli ho did not suggest that the nurses were adequately paid, the matter be held over tor one month. Mr Kmart seconded tho motion.

Sir James, in referring to a remark of a. pr svious speaker relative to increased fees, pointed out that while certain people conti: ,ued to use the hospital an increase was iot justifiable. “If the wealthier class takes advantage of public hospital treatment it. will bo essential for them to realise,” remarked the speaker, “that they must stand aside if want of accommodation prevents the admission of the poorer classes.” Mr Nash again rose to stress the necessity for t le board, when framing the estimates in fi ture, to allow a greater amount for

contingencies, which would enable coping with such a situation.

On the managing secretary remarking that the amount at present allowed for was £250, Mr Nash held that such should be £IOOO.

Continuing, the speaker pointed out that, on the average, the nurses had been attending 3J patients instead of three during tho past throe months, and he personally could not understand how any of tho members could conceive that they were adequately paid. It was quite a reasonable request, and after all thero had been several matters dealt with which had not been originally allowed for in the estimates.

On being put to the meeting, the amendment was carried, and the proposal was accordingly held over for further consideration.

DEPARTING RESIDENTS. MR AND MRS PENKETH FAREWELLED. Mr and Mrs James Penkcth, who arc leaving Palmerston North to-morrow for Auckland, where they will spend a vacation with relatives and friends before embarking on July 10 for Samoa, where Mr Penketh lias secured a three years’ appointment in charge of tho Public Works plumbing department, were yesterday entertained at luncheon, when Mr R. M. Maunder, on behalf of those with whom Mr Penketh was intimately connected in building and associated trades, made a presentation of an umbrella to Mrs Penketh and a gold pencil case to her husband. In so doing, Mr Maunder said that all were sorry to lose one whom they hud known in business for many year’s and one whose standard of living had been ail inspiration to them all. His plain manner of speaking had only added to his worth in their eyes. The speaker hoped that their guests would have a successful career in Samoa, and be spared to eventually return to settle again in Palmerston North.

In returning thanks on behalf of himself and wife, Mr Penketh said he felt sure that, after 20 years in Palmerston North, he was leaving tho town without ever having to his knowledge made an enemy. FUNCTION AT TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Following supper at the Technical School last evening, members of the Board of Governors, the staff and old pupils met to farewell Mr Penketh, who has been plumbing instructor at the institution for the pnst. 20 years with the exception of a smalt break in 1917 and 1918.''

In making reference to the excellent qualities of tho departing officer, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., chairman of the board, said that Mr Penketh had been one of the pioneers of tho school, having started the practical plumbing class in 1905 in a building in Rangitikci street. I-ater he commenced a theory class ill Cuba street, and this was transferred to the present site after the building had been opened by the late Mr W. Rutherfurd. Mr Penketh had served under four directors. The speaker referred also to the number of students who had worked under Mr Penketh’s tuition and had become registered plumbers. Mr Penketh w’as to be complimented on the fact that the Government had asked him to take over the position in Samoa. After Messrs W. F. Durward and G. G. Hancox (director of the school) had adooc. their tributes, Mr Nash, on behalf of the board and staff, presented Mr Penketh with a suitably-inscribed gold pendant, Mr E. Holier, on behalf of the old students, also made tho presentation of a pocket wallet to Mr Penketh and a purse to Mrs Penketh. following which Mr Pen kelh suitably replied.

FOURTH FIANCE. LONDON, May 31. Miss Kitty Kiernan, who was engaged to he married, respectively, to Kelleher, of the Irish Constabulary. Harry Boland and Michael Collins, Republican leaders, all of whom were Uillod, has now become affianced to tho Free State general, Felix Cronin.