NURSES’ SALARIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25385, 17 November 1943, Page 5

NURSES’ SALARIES

INCREASE SUGGESTED HOSPITAL BOARD’S SUPPORT Referring to the move by the executive ot the Hospital Boards’ Association for a new uniform scale of Wages for nurses, which would be an all-round increase on the scale in 1942, Mr N. H. Colquhoun, at. the meeting of the Waitaki Hospital Board yesterday, said that he thought this was an honest attempt to improve tne salaries of nurses employed by hospital boards Certain anomalies must arise, out in general the scheme tended to place nurses on a basis to which they were entitled, and they would be assured of a reasonable standard of living. tn regarc- to the Ashburton Hospital Board’s criticism of the type of nurse entering the profession at present, Mr Colquhoun said that there was as good a class of girl entering the profession as there ever was. A general nurse trained at the Oamaru Hospital could compete with any nurse in the British Empire. This criticism was also a reflection on Hospital boards, said Mr Colquhoun. He moved that favourable support be given by the Waitaki Board to the suggestion by the Hospital Boards’ Association in regard to increasing the salaries of nurses. Mr H. C. Jeffery seconded the motion, and Mr A. Mclnnes spoke in support of it- . „ . The chairman (Mr Rodman) said that Ashburton's attitude should not be criticised, as that board was referring to a domestic matter. He approved of Mr Colauhoun’s remarks, but he doubted whether the scale would prove to be permanent. Some of the boards had rejected the scale of wages which had been introduced in 1942. A decision was reached to draw up a remit on the lines suggested by Mr Colquhoun, and forward it to the conference of hospital boards to be held in Dunedin early next year.