SALARIES INCREASED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 139, 25 March 1941, Page 3

SALARIES INCREASED.

NURSES AT AUCKLAND. (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Marfl 24. After a resolution proposing a £lO increase in the annual salaries of all nurses had been lost at a meeting ol the Auckland Hospital Board to-night, a further motion providing for a £5 increase was carried by a majority ofone. Subsequently the chairman, Mr Allan Moody, gave notice of motion to decision at the next meeting of the board. The discussion aros ewhen the board was considering a special report from •the finance and purchasing committee dealing with salaries. This showed that the cost of the increases recommended by the annual revision of salaries, and excluding grading increases and those due under awards, would he £l-573 for the year ended March 31, 11141. It was estimated that salaries would amount to £270.000, compared with £230,913 in 1939-40, and £91,500 im 1933-34. In 1933-34 the staff totalled 742, and in 1939-40 it was 1368, while at the end 'of the present year it would be approximately 1650, including 91 employees on military service and 50 part-time visiting staff. The increase of £lO for nurses was proposed by Mr G. T. Parvin. Mr Moody said he. thought that the nurses were being very well treated, afid explained that the increase would involve about £SOOO. The motion was lost. The Rev. W. C. Wood then moved that an increase of £5 a year be given. “We are not a Labour Government, always going upward and onward,” said Air Moody, in objecting. If he was re-elected to the hoard at the next election he would seriously consider moving for a decrease rather than an increase in the highfer-paid salaries. The. increase was approve^.