AN OFFICER'S SALARY

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14338, 25 April 1912, Page 5

AN OFFICER'S SALARY

DISCUSSION' BY HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

In reporting to tho Hospital Board yesterday, the Finance Committee suggested that the secretary and treasurer's salary should bo increased from £500 to £'560.

■Mr C. Allison objected to the increase. It seemed to him that preparation was being made for tho oilicer's retirement. He was not. required to exercise any great degree of management. Every increase to the oilicer's salary had been received by the public with expressions of dissent. When the salary had been increased to £500, the Board generally had agreed that the amount was enough. Mr It. Moore dwelt on 'th© importance of tho office. When tho Board took office tho officer received £450, but since then his duties had been extended, and he had received more responsibilities. In his opinion £550 was not too much.

Mr H. B. Sorensen supported the increase. The Board had piled work.tipou the olticer, and, in fact, had really overloaded him.

Mr A. IT. Turnbull said careful consideration had convinced him that the office was worth at least .L'CiOO a year it the duties the Board desireiT'to be carried out wero efficiently performed. He suggested the employment of an under- ■ stud v.

Mr G. Scott said the principle should be laid down xhat a man should retire at tho age of sixty-five. Tho officer in question was rather too old for the efficient performance of his jrork. Mrs Ensom considered £500 was enough for the office. Mr C. Cook considered £050 a large salary. If they were going to superannuate one servant, they should superannuate other house servants. He thought £500 a good salary. Mr Tanner considered that whatever salary the Board were going to pay. the work at the present time was not done. There was n practice on the part of the hospital authorities in sending out bills to in-patients, and some of these wrote to the Hospital Committee asking that the whole or part be remitted. The committee desired to get certain information, and instructed -tho secretary and treasurer, but this information they failed to got. fie was not' attacking anyone, ln> was simply recording facts.

The Chairman (Mr P. Horrell) considered Mr Allison had rather underrated the responsibilities of Mr Xorris. because they had important trusts to administer. Mr Norris bad been a nu'st excellent officer, and had been lookrd upon as an expert m charitable aid matters. In taking on the duty ot secretary to the Charitable Aid and Hospital Board's combined lie was takintr on new work.

The increase wa.s granted nn the casting vote of tho chairman.