ST. HELENS NURSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 13

ST. HELENS NURSES.

LONG HOURS OF DUTY.

MEMBER NOT SATISFIED.

"INACTION OF THE MINISTER."

[fit TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLING TON, Fridn y.

Tho long hours worked by nurses in St. Helens hospitals were criticised by Mr. J. McCombs (Labour —Lyttcllon) when tho estimates of tho Health Department wero under consideration in the House of Representatives to-day.

Mr. McCombs said ho was not satisfied with the answer given by tho Minister of Health, tho Hon. A. <T. Slallworthy, last week to questions asked about tho long hours worked by nurses. About a year ago the Minister had stated ho intended to take action to control tho hours worked by nurses in private and public hospitals. In the caso of private hospitals legislation might bo necessary, while thero wero tho hospital boards as far as public hospitals were concerned.

St. Helens hospitals wero under tho direct control of tho Minister and his department, but tho way nurses wero treated in those institutions was scandalous. "Nurses at St. Helens Hospital at Auckland work 10 to 15 hours a day for seven days a week," said Mr. McCombs. Ten hours was provided for in tho regulations, but frequently they worked 15. All tho Minister said was that ho was going into tho matter. "Sonto of these fine women aro having their health permanently injured bccauso of the inaction of tho Minister and his department. Tho position is too serious for tho Minister to continue in his procrastinating way. The Minister says ho has not tho housing accommodation to provido tho extra nurses who aro necessary and that ho has not the money. What would a magistrate say if the Minister was charged -with cruelty to a horse and ho was to defend himself by saying ho had no stabling accommodation 1 Tho magistl'ato would probably double tho fine."

Tho Minister replied that during August tho pupil nurses at St. Helens Hospital at Auckland did not work moro than eight and a-half hours a day. They had 24 hours off in a month, with permission to sleep away from tho institution. As far as the training staff wero concerned, they worked from seven to ten hours a day, and a total of 53 hours a week.

Mr. McCombs: That is only for a month.

The Minister said there was no ulterior motive in selecting August, tho only reason beiiiß that it was tho most recent. Over a year ago ho called for a report of tho hours worked hv nurses in all St. Helens hospitals and following that he took steps to have tho position improved. The hours and general conditions in St. Helens and public hospitals had been materially improved. He also had an active programme for still further improvement.

EXPENSES IN LONDON.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S STAFF

NEED FOR ECONOMY

[BT TELEGRAM.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON, Friday.

The need for reducing expenditure in connection with tho offico of the High Commissioner iu London was discussed by Mr. H. G. Dickie (Reform —Patea) during discussion of tho Internal Affairs Department in tho House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Dickie said tho Government had undertaken economies in many directions, but no effort had been made to cut down the expenses of tho High Commissioner's office. He drew special attention to tho salary of £9OO paid the emigration officer. The Government had practically stopped immigration, and yet this officer was being paid a high salary for what must bo very little work. " Wo should do some cheese-paring in this office," Mr. Dickie said. "It is notable that the Australian offico has cut down ils expenses by £30,000 a year. Wo certainly do not need a large staff to deal with migration at present."