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Matron grade, nor can I understand why this recommendation should be made in regard to a colony like Hong Kong. Each Matron in a large hospital should definitely have one (or more) assistants, as soneone should be in a position to act as her deputy during her absence from the hospital. This applies particularly in nurse training schools in this Colony where the standard of training is higher than any other Colonial territory. Inadequate supervisory staff may affect the position in regard to Hong Kong's reciprocal State Registration with this country.
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In general terms the proposed salary scales for the nursing staff compare quite reasonably with salaries in the U.K., but I note that the salary for Matrons is on a flat rate, without previston for increments. This is wrong, and is not with comparable positions in the education and other Departments. Throughout the scales the same position as always exists is evident when comparison is made between the salaries of qualified members of the nursing profession and those of women officers in the Education Department, Almoners and other comparable posts. Even women clerical officers and stenographers appear to have a higher salary than M/Sa. Para: 46 indicates the possibility that N/S will have to pay rent for their quarters which have hitherto been free. This will emphasise their relative disadvantage. Why does a School Mistress receive £120 p.a. more than a N/S at the minimum of her scale, and £475 more at her maximum? Or a Senior Mistress £475 and £435 more than a S/N/S? I should welcome an opportunity to present arguments against this attitude.
Hounce. I. Udell.
16th October.1947
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