SALARIES OF NURSES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10965, 29 July 1921, Page 5

SALARIES OF NURSES

DISCUSSED BY BOARS SHOULD THE AMOUNTS BE INCREASED ? A COMMITTEE’S REPORT. ■ln the course of the business at the meeting of the Wellington. Hospital Board yesterday, the question of whether tho salaries of probationer nurses should be increased —a fairly old question now—was again under discussion, subsequent to the reading of the following recommendation oi the finance, property, and policy committee: “That, with reference to . the resolution to consider the question of increasing the salaries of probationer nurses, after full consideration, the committee reports the present time is not opportune for making any alteration in the scale of salaries paid the nursing staff, and that this question will be reconsidered towards the end of the financial year/* Mr Butler wished to move an amendment that the board disagree with the committee in regard to probationers salaries and make the salary £3O to £36 for the first year, £4O to £42 for the second year, and £SO to £52 for the third year. j The chairman, Mr F. Castle, thought the matter was opening up fresh business, and therefore be felt he ehould rule that the matter could not proceed without a notice of motion. . In consequence of the chairman a ruling, the original mover said he ae« sired to move a fresh resolution to the effect that the matter be referred back to the committee for further consideration. The chairman said that he did not feel that it would do much good to raise a question concerning finance m the middle of the financial year. If they were to advocate an increase in' salaries of a certain proportion of the staff, it would have an influence on the other section. The real wages, he tfaid, were entirely different from the nominal wages. The average wage of a nurse was from £6O to £7O per annum. but, of course, they boarded at the hospital.

QUESTION OF “S 77 ” F-SACRIFICE.”

The Rev. Dr ERL i hoped that the finance committee v.’ouid not do anything in the matter without studying the system of other hospitals throughout the Dominion. There was a certain amount of “self-sacrifice” attached to the life of a nurse, although, of course, it must be remembered that the nurse was being trained. Mr Glover said that lie considered the amount of “self-sacrifice” was not as great as that .of a woman about to become a mother. It was decided to refer the original recommendation back to the finance, property, and policy committee for consideration. ,