HOSPITAL SALARIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 134, 19 March 1931, Page 4

HOSPITAL SALARIES.

Sir,—l think the gentleman who answered my anonymous letter would have been well advised to himself write under a. nom de plume. I admire his support of his friend, but as a manager of a mercantile firm, who must have an accurate knowledge of the position of farmers of this County, 1 doubt liis wisdom in publicly voicing an opinion calculated to influence the Hospital Board in maintaining the abnormal salaries which arc apparently being paid-. I »eem to recollect that the retiring Board of two years ago recommended increases in unite a number of salaries, one being the secretary’s to round about £6OO. If this was done, and probably in any case, he would be collecting a salary higher than either our County or Town Clerks. Tho Board justifies this salary because of tho secretary’s ability to collect money. Might I just draw your readers’ attention to the fac-t that the County and Borough rates are collected by the respective tlerks of these bodies, and this fact added to the statements I made in my previous letter re the collection of hospital fees, leaves a grave doubt as to the .justification for the size of this particular salary. Now, Sir, it is not my intention to further occupy your space. Tho letter which I previously wrote and which was designated “constructive criticism” has not been answered. I am pot concerned with the possibilities of the forthcoming election, but I am concerned with tho serious economic crisis through which the Dominion is passing, and the heavy rating of our Hospital Board as a result of abnormal expenditure. FACE FACTS. P S.—lt is indeed an unfortunate fact that when the necessity arises for the reduction oti the salaries of any public servants it must have a personal aspect. ,