Health Bd gets rise

Press, 27 July 1989, Page 7

Health Bd gets rise

Canterbury Area Health Board members agreed yesterday to take the maximum available allowances in spite of protests by one board member that this was not appropriate. Mr David Lawrence said the increased remuneration was the Government’s recognition of the board’s increased size and responsibilities and that it should be paid accordingly.

Mr David Close said it would be inappropriate for the board to accept the increases when the board was asking staff to make cuts. The board’s vice-chairwoman, Mrs June Gardiner, said Mr Close was being unrealistic.

Being a board member was a stressful and demanding position, which

should be adequately recompensed, she said.

Her comments were echoed by Professor Don Beaven, who said the board should take the increased allowances. He said he had no doubt that Christchurch would also be asked to shoulder the responsibility for national experiments in health delivery services.

The new maximum allowances were payable from June 1. The board chairman’s allowance increases from $18,282 to $36,500 a year. The deputy chairman’s allowance increases from $9500 to $13,000 a year, and their allowances for attending meetings from $6O to $BO a day. Board members .will receive $7200 each and an additional $95 a day meeting attendance fee.