LOWER SALARIES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 10

LOWER SALARIES

/ House Surgeons’ Protest CLASH WITH BOARD “Attempt to Bludgeon” DISMISSAL SUGGESTED Simultaneously with ihe insertion of an advertisement in “The Dominion” that they “would be glad to hear of vacancies on other hospitals or of loctmis,” the house surgeons of the Wellington Hospital wrote to the board protesting against the assessment of their “living-in” accommodation as a means of further reducing their salaries. This method of protest was described by members of the Board yesterday as unconstitutional and most improper. It was even suggested that the services of the complainants should be dispensed with immediately and a call made for volunteers. The Board decided to review the whole question at a special meeting on Tuesday next. The letter, which was signed by B. T. Hooper, senior house surgeon, and addressed to the secretary of the board, was as follows: — I have been requested by a meeting of the house surgeons to protest to the board against the amount of our salary cut. We realise that the ten per cent, ileductio.n from our salaries is reasonable, although we would prefer a sliding scale as has been adopted In Auckland. We emphatically protest against the assessment of our board as a means of further reducing our salaries. We would respectfully point out that we have been short-staffed for some months, and there Is a likelihood of our being further overworked due to house surgeons applying for positions in other hospitals, where the reduction has not been so great. We would also respectfully point out that our quarters are inadequately heated and that our food Is poorer than that in other hospitals we know of. Members Indignant. “This is rather an extraordinary position,” commented the chairman, Mr. F. Castle. Mrs. A. McVicar said she thought the board should ignore the communication. The Chairman: We are forced to take notice. My attention has been drawn to the advertisement In this morning’s “Dominion.” Mr. Luke and myself . agreed upon what we thought was a fair assessment. I suggest you leave the matter in our hands. I am sorry the protest was made in such an unconstitutional manner. A Voice: They have a downright cheek. The chairman said he certainly thought the house surgeons had been most indiscreet. Mr. F. Bennett: Were you not consulted before the advertisement appeared ? The Chairman: No, certainly not. 1 interviewed the writer of the letter this morning and advised him to cancel any further advertisement. The house surgeons have taken up a most unfortunate attitude. This sort of thing will only recoil on them. Voices: Hear, hear. Remedy in Own Hands. / ■ Mr. C. M. Duke said he would say to the house surgeons that if they thought they could better themselves elsewhere then the remedy was in their, own hands. He had known times in Wellington when medical students prayed and longed for the day when their names would appear on the’ list of approved house surgeons. The salaries, in those days were from £5O to £100; to-day they ranged from £l5O •to £250. The house surgeons also received emoluments which were not thought ot a few years ago. “I say that if they are disgruntled then they should get out,” declared Mr. Luke. “I* believe that if a call were made for volunteers the medical profession would rise to the occasion. The house suggeons should be made aware of the department’s letter asking us to curtail expenditure to the greatest possible extent. Here we have men drawing salaries protesting when thousands of people don’t know where the next meal is coming from. I think their position should inspire gratitude rather than hostility.” Talk of Suspension. The chairman remarked that! he regarded the house surgeons’ action as an attempt to bludgeon the board. ’ Mrs. McVicar said she felt very strongly on the question, particularly when she thought of the thousands of married men •with families who had to struggle along on less than £4 a week. “I think we ought to suspend these young men,” she said. ■ After further discussion, the chairman and Mr. Dike undertook to go into the whole question, and report to the board meeting on Tuesday. In his annual report to the board medical superintendent. Dr. H. Bayldon Ewen states: “Frequent changes have again occurred among the bouse surgeons. The demand still exceeds the supply.” Several Complaints.

It is stated that the house surgeons at the hospital have for some time been dissatisfied with their conditions of work, and in particular with the quality, variety and serving of their food. They complain that there is no heat.ine of their bedrooms; that the recreiti n room is inadequately heated by steam; and that there is no room in which they can study in quiet. They state they are compelled to take professional responsibility for furnishing insurance certificates of patients nnd are not allowed to collect the fees.