WOMEN'S RESPONSIBILITIES

Southland Times, Issue 17470, 26 March 1915, Page 2

WOMEN'S RESPONSIBILITIES

IN HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION. AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.' Some time ago tho Idea was mooted that in Southland as In other parts of the dominion, women should be elected to the-. Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. As the elections are now approaching and tho subject is believed to be exercising the minds of many people, a Southland Times reporter yesterday waited on Mr R. Dunlop, who brought forward a proposal In connection with the matter two years ago. Mr Dunlop said that the last election took place two years ago. In July, 1913, on the retirement of Mr R. Galbraith from the Board a committee of the Town Council recommended the appointment of Mr McFarlane. Mr Dunlop moved an amendment that a committee be set up with a view to obtaining the consent of a. suitable woman to fill the vacancy, the idea being to get a woman on the Board without going through an election. The motion was favourably received although not carried, and Mr Dunlop was advised by those who commented on tho proposal that it should be dealt with at the time of an election Instead of on the occasion of a casual vacancy. “The precedent of having women on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards was set many years ago in the' cities, it probably being twenty years since Christchurch elected two women to the Board,” said Mr'Dunlop. “They have continued it ever since. At the last election Auckland ’ returned Dr Florence Keller, Wellington Dr Platls-Mills, Christchurch Mesdamcs Wilson and Christie, while Mesdamcs Lindo Ferguson and Jackson were elected at the head of the poll in Dunedin. 1 think that we should adopt the same principle here. Women largely influence the elections on the ratepayers and residential votes of the town and therefore should accept a share of the work, especially as they can be so useful in dealing with the sufferings of women and children,” in conclusion. Mr Dunlop drew attention to tlie utterance of -Mrs Lindo Ferguson. who stated: "We all know that women, as a rule, are more conscientious and careful in money matters than men—one reason, I fancy, being that they seldom have much of their own to spend. A great deal lias been done during our two years’ service on the Board, and a great deal more remains to be done. Mrs Jackson and i are just beginning to understand the ramifications of hospital management and the distribution of charitable aid. and I think that if members are willing to serve for longer they should be allowed to do so. as it is very important in dealing with institutions like hospitals to have continuity of policy. 1 take it that efficient hospital administration means satisfactory care of the sick poor and economical expenditure of our ratepayers’ money, and efficient and economy go hand in hand. Tho work that women can do in connection with hospitals is endless. After all, it is like housekeeping on a large scale, with the addition of a training school for medical students and nurses. The matron wants help, the patients want to be talked to and cheered up and their grumbles listened to; one must visit kitchens at meal times, see and taste the food, pay visits to laundries, examine cupboards, bathrooms, lavatories.”