The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1918. MISS THURSTON'S POSITION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12409, 29 August 1918, Page 4

The Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1918. MISS THURSTON'S POSITION

Tho Hospital Board was rather unfortunate in tho way it went about tho discussion of tho position of Miss Thurston, the matron of the institution, who is now doing war work in England. Tho Hospital CotuiniUco presented a report to tho board, stating that “it had taken into consideration the position of the acting-lady superintendent (Miss Muir), who, to her disadvantage, was loyally standing by tho hospital year after year. When in March, 1916, leave of absence was granted to Miss Thurston, nobody in New Zealand anticipated that the war would run into tho fifth year, and the end not he in sight. The committee suggested that the position bo placed before Alisa Thurston, who would no doubt recognise the position ‘in which Miss Muir was placed, and cither return to take up her duties or resign rather than aggravate a difficult position for ono who, though inducements had offered, had stuck to her post and her promise to stand by.” It will ho remembered that early in 1916 Alias Thurston was granted leave of absence for the duration of tho war, and that her appointment to tho Walton-on-Thames Hospital was regarded by tho board and the public as a high compliment to the Christchurch Hospital. It is rathor an extraordinary position to find a public body bemoaning having entered into a patriotic undertaking because it is beginning to fool sonic inconvenience in its staffing arrangements. It is stated that Aliss Afuir is placed at a disadvantage by her promise to stand by during Miss Thurston’s absence, but if that is correct the board should compensate her, <r release her voluntarily from her undertaking. The board is entitled to ascertain Aliss Thurston’s intentions, but. this should not be done by tho sending of an ultimatum to “ return or resign.” It was pointed out that the end of tho war is not in sight., and that there is no certainty that Aliss Thurston will return to New Zealand when it is over. War hospitals will bo in existence in Britain and all the overseas dominions for many years to come, and it is possible that Aliss Thurston will elect to stay in England, where there will be a largo field for the exercise of her genius for hospital work. The board could easily have made its inquiries from Aliss Thurston without entering on a public discussion, and adopting a course which is designed to put a peremptory end to an honourable contract. The board must have been hard pressed for arguments to support its decision when one of tho members—and a lady member!—suggested that tho contract was not binding because Miss Thurston is occupying a more responsible position than that for which she was given leave of absence to assume. Air Sorensen correctly pointed out that the fact that Aliss Thurston had been promoted was no argument for a repudiation of the arrangement entered into. The board cannot be complimented on its handling of the situation.