NURSES’ SALARIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1944, Page 3

NURSES’ SALARIES

HOSPITAL BOARD CONCERNED DELAY IN APPROVAL OF INCREASE. DUE TO STABILISATION REGULATIONS. A decision to request the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association to give urgency in its representations to the Economic Stabilisation Commissioner, regarding a proposed increase in nurses’ salaries, was made unanimously at yesterday’s meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board. The Economic Stabilisation Commissioner advised that the proposed incraese in nurses’ salaries had not yet been approved and the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association advised that it was again taking up the matter.

Mrs S. Fletcher said that the Stabilisation Officer was anxious that the nurses’ salaries should be increased but he had to administer the regulation under which an increase in salary could only be granted where it was proved that there was an increase in the work carried out and an increase in danger. She suggested that the board should bring to his notice the increased number of patients and corresponding hard work for the nurses and that an increased number of tuberculosis patients exposed the nurses’ health to a greater degree of risk. She suggested that the board itself should act and not wait for the Hospital Boards’ Association.

“It is a national matter,” observed Mr J. F. Thompson. “The board -is agreed that our nursing staff for a considerable time past has been underpaid, taking into account the responsibility and the risk. The Hospital Boards’ Association speaks for all boards in New Zealand and action as a whole would be better.” Mr P. R. Welch: “We will not get far on our own. I hope that the Hospital Boards’ Association has been making a reasonable effort and not a half-heart-ed one towards getting an increase.” “In other words the nurses should form their own trade union to get a wage increase,” observed Mr W. B. Martin. Mrs Fletcher said a nurse received £6O cash and £52 boarding allowance. On the total sum of £ll2 per annum the nurse paid £l4 tax, leaving a sum of £46 cash per year and out of that superannuation had to be paid. In present, conditions it was not sufficient to provide the nurses with a minimum of clothing and holidays essential for the maintenance of their health. “All hospital boards are agreed on that,” said Mr H. H. Mawley (chairman). “We are trying to do something about it.” “We cannot get more nurses until we make their conditions better, said Mrs Fletcher. The resolution stated above was passed,