HOSPITAL BOARD SALARIES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21510, 27 June 1935, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD SALARIES

; PROJECTED FIVE PER CENT. INCREASE GOVERNMENT EXPECTED TO APPROVE PROPOSALS Following the resolution of the North Canterbury Hospital Board to increase salaries and wages by 5 per cent., a detailed report on discussions and negotiations by the finance committee was presented to the boaid at its meeting yesterday. The report 1 stated that it was estimated that of I the £'1750 which was the approximate I amount to be expended in giving effect to the board's resolution, at least £3OOO would meet with the approval of the Health Department. At a special meeting of the committee further consideration had been given to the estimates as submitted *.o the Government. These had been fully gone into and it had been decided that the maintenance estimates should be reduced by £1450. and that the estimate for receipts should be increased by £IOOO. It had been found in addition that £2050 might be saved on the capital estimates in the provision for sinking fund. The Government had been advised of these reductions. The report slated that under the present proposals the levy for maintenance and capita! would be ,£71.88G Is Bd. and the subsidy £71,427 8s 4d. The claim on the local authorities would bo approximately i'OGO less than under the original proposal passed by the board. The levy originally proposed for maintenance and capital had been £72.841 la Bd, and the subsidy £71,982 8s 4d. Payment of Subsidy "It was suggested," the report continued, "that the chairman and tho secrotarv should visit Wellington to discuss the question of subsidy in connexion with the proposed readjustment of salaries and wages This visit has not taken place, but the chairman of the board, and the chairman of the committee, with other members, had an opportunity for an interview with the Director-General of Health in Christchurch. "The attention of the Director-Gen-eral was called to the fact that certain other hospital boards had made readjustments in certain group:: of salaries and wages last year, though this board was not aware 11 wit the Governineri had agreed to any .special action being taken." Agreement had' been readied between the Director-General and the committer, that consideration should be given to a claim for subsidy on readjustment of certain groups of employees. A schedule had been forwarded to Wellington, which, it was hoped, would be approved, whereby those groups of employees whose salaries had been reduced and who had suffered a reduction oJ the value of the "living in," would riceive some readjustment, It was anticipated that the department would .ippreve the payment of subsidy on them; amounts', and a subsidy would also probably be r< cognised on all increases in .viaries of persons l'!\,rn whom normal increases iiad been withheld. The report was adopted.