Superannuation of Nurses

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 3, 1 July 1923, Page 106

Superannuation of Nurses

Cabinet is now considering the introduction of legislation to provide a scheme of superannuation for nurses and other members of hospital staffs. A scheme of this nature might be relied upon to command hearty and general approval. Even with such improvements as have been made in recent years, rates of pay to nurses and others employed in hospital service are not high. The work of nurses, particularly, is of a kind that cannot be commercialised. Its appeal is to those only who are endowed in an exceptional degree with the spirit of service and sacrifice. All who spend long years in nursing service or in related hospital duties deserve to be gratefully considered by the community, and are very handsomely entitled to be assisted in making provision for their later years. There should be no need to delay the legislation now being considered. It would undoubtedly command an easy and rapid passage through Parliament. — From "Dominion," July 6.

[In regard to the above, and referring also to questions frequently asked in the House, it is evident thai the demand made for superannuation is mainly on behalf of nurses and not so much in regard to other hospital workers. A plea should also be made that such superannuation should be exf ended to nurses in private practice This service, so badly needed by the pubHc. is of its nature non-remunerative, in spite of fair fees and fees as high as the general public can afford. The intermittent nature of the demand for nursing service leaves, sometimes f^r long periods, nurses without work, waiting, waiting for a call, and at this time earning nothing, but paying away all savings in board and lodging. During a time of much sickness private nuTses are fully employed, and people complain there is a shortage; but what are they to do in the long intervals? Of all nurses, those engaged in private practice are the ones who need 1o be treated as public servants and provided with a superannuation pension on retirement.]