SMOKING-ROOM WANTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 221, 19 September 1941, Page 4

SMOKING-ROOM WANTED

WANGANUI HOSPITAL NURSES

OBJECTIONS BY MATRON

A plea for a room at the Wanganui Public Hospital where nurses may smoke wa.s made by Mrs. J. J. Scott (Wanganui) at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. when reporting on an interview she had had with the matron. Miss M. J. Hunter, on the subject. Mrs Scott raised the question at a previous meeting, and with Mr. R. Farley (Westmere) was appointed to go into it and report to the board. Following a discussion yesterday, the question was referred to the House Committee.

Mrs. Scott said yestordav that >hp was a non-smoker, but believed that provision should bo made for a room where nurses could smoke. With Mr. Farley she had interviewed the matron, Miss Hunter, who. however, objected to girls smoking. “I told the matron.” Mrs. Scott added, “that it would be far better for the girls to smoke openly than do it behind her back and be deceitful.” The matron had also said there was no room which could be used for this purpose, but. Mrs. Scott suggested that it would be a good idea if one or Iwo of the senior sisters could live out. and thus make more accommodation available. Mr T. C. Kincaid (Taihape): You would need a large room. Mrs. Scott. The other sitting-room would not be used. According to the matron. Mrs. Scott added, only one or two of the nurses smoked. She believed, however, that the matron would he surprised if she knew’ how many did. Mr. Kincaid: Why not give them permission Io smoke in their own sitting-room?

This was against, the rules, Mrs. Scott replied. H was an offence against the etiquette of the sisters and nurses who did not smoke. The matron and senior sisters objected to the girls smoking. “If the girls want to smoke, let them do it openly and provide them with a room for that purpose,” Mrs. Scott declared. • Mr Farley said the matron thought the rooms could be used for other purposes, and held the view that smoking could be clone without Mr. A. S. Coleman (Rangitikei) moved that the question be referred back to the House Committee, members of which could discuss the subject with the matron.

“I cannot see any reason why the girls should not smoke in their own sitting-room.” Mr. Coleman added.