Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 6

Public Opinion

ONE DAY OFF IN SEVEN Sir,-—An overwhelming majority ol 5 the citizens of Wanganui must hav< read with indignation and scorn you) report of the recent meeting of the Hoa w pital Board, when the question of allow- ' ing nurses one day off in seven was discussed. As the parent of more than one girl who has so ordered her life to standing and serving by the bedside of broken ami afflicted humanity, I challenge Mr. < oleman to publicly state how it is in the nurses’ own best interest that they should not have one day off in seven. Mith regard to Dr. Nelson’s opinion that the nurses did not need one day off in seven, and if they were mildly ill they were put off. 1 would say that I always thought that the trend of modern medical practice was in the direction ot prevention rather than cure. In 1906 a Ihw was passed in France making it compulsory for all hospital authorities to give the nurses one day off in seven. It is not many years ago since th* nurses had to wash the floors and do the general cleaning of the hospitals, often to the neglect of the patients, and the reformers who contended that a nurse’s duty was exclusively that of attending to the patient had to meet the diehards’ objection on the ground of expense. 1 would like to see Dr. Nelson and Mr. Coleman with his ex-nurses, in front of the Judge of the Arbitration Court, trying to make out a ease why nurses should not get one day off in seven. No one needs a great imagination to picture what a scream it would be. However, it does look like as if noble and self-secrificing band of woT men will have to put aside any scruples they’ may have and form themselves into an institution, guild, or union, o’ whatever you like to call it. and appea to the Arbitration Court, before they will get justice from the Wanganui Hospital Board.— 1 am, etc., R. J. JACKSON. Wanganui, June 19, 1931.