WAGES RESTORED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 15

WAGES RESTORED

Wairarapa Hospital ■ Board “STAFF VERY RESTLESS” Dominion Special Service. Masterton, September 16. The statement that the domestic staff of the Wairarapa Hospital Board was getting very restless when it compared its wages working hours with those obtaining at the Wellington Hospital was made by the ehairman, Mr. H. H. Mawley, at the monthly meeting of tile Wairarapa board to-day, It appeared, he continued, that some members of the staff would be going down to Wellington if the board was not very careful, and therefore a meeting of the finance committee had been called, and it had authorised that the standard of wages should be restored to the 1931 level. That was practically mandatory so far as the department was concerned, but it would be left to the board to discuss the working hours. The committee’s recommendations for increased Wages, as from July 1, to the following, were approved: Housemaids, kitchenmaids, and wardsmaids at all the board’s institutions, porters at the Greytown Hospital, handyman at the Pahiatua Hospital, cook at the Greytown Hospital, third man on grounds, second gardener, porter, second cook and tutor sister at the Masterton Hospital. The board also approved of an increase for the engineer of the Masterton'Hospital as from September 1, and also an increase for hospital aids at all institutions. In other case 6 it was agreed to review the position when preparing the estimates for the next financial year. Another suggestion of the committee, which the board approved, was that sufficient domestic and outside staffs be employed at all institutions to allow each member one complete day’s leave each week.

It was stated by the managing-secre-tary, Mr, Norman Lee, that the recommendations would entail an additional £B3O for the financial year. Some discussion followed the committee's recommendatibn that the salary of the matron of the Greytown Hospital and the Buehanan Home should not be increased until additions were completed. It was also pointed out by the chairman that the status of the hospital had been lowered since 1931. Mrs. S. Fletcher said she was not satisfied that the matron’s salary should remain as at present, contending that it did not seem quite fair to make fish of one and flesh of another. There was a good deal in what, Mrs. Fletcher said, remarked Mr. J. F. Thompson, who said the matron now had to perform more work than before.

After further discussion the board unanimously decided to increase the salary from £230 to £255 a year. When it was stated that the committee had raised the wages of the cook at the Masterton Hospital, Mrs. Fletcher said sne would like to know how many cooks there had been in the last four years, and if they had any complaints against the kitchen. “It seems to me,” she said, 'that the constant changing of cooks is not good for the institution. I can tell you off-hand that there have been ten cooks in four years. That’s far too much."

Miss C. McKenny suggested that a sister-d-etitian should be in cnarge of the kitchen,, but the chairman expressed the opinion tnat any consideration fo that sort shonlo be taken at the oeginuiug of the financial year. A letter was received frem the DirectorGeneral of Health suggesting that the board should take steps to reduce the working hours of nurses and the domestic staff to a more reasonable standard, and it was decided to write to the DirectorGeneral “putting forward the true facts.” Mr. T. Beetham remarked that it looked as though,one of the departmental officers was looking for something to stir up, but did not know how to do"it. Criticism of the T.B. annexe was made by Mrs. Fletcher, who said the ceiling had not been painted for 20 years, and who expressed concern that T.B. germs might be theie. rhe medical superintendent, Dr. Archei Hosking. however, assured the meeting that everything was in order. The chairman remarked that he was a little bit annoyed at what Mrs. Fletcher had said at the last meeting concerning the annexe. Statements like that, it they got out, were not calculated to do goou, in'his opinion, and while Mrs. Fletcher no doubt was actuated by the best of intentions, it paid to be on sure grounds. As it was h£r statements could not be substantiated by fact

ENTRIES FOR BULL FAIR

Dannevirke District News

Danhevirke, September 23. At a meeting of the committee of the Dannevirke District Jersey Cattle Club, the secretary reported that 50 entries had been received for the bull fair on Tuesday, October 6. Mr. F. V. Bryant, of Mangatainoka, had intimated that he would act as judge of the animals prior to the fair, and Mr. R, C. Leach had accepted the position of inspector. The draw was fixed for the catalogue, and the animals are to be inspected in the paddock on Monday, September 21. The question of holding a demonstration during the first week in November was again discussed, and it was decided to meet at the fair and finalise this matter. Commencing on October 23, the committee will in future meet ou the fourth Friday in every alternate month. Chamber of Commerce Meeting.

Four new members were elected at the monthly meeting of the Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce last evening: Messrs. W. H. Howarth, N. Alexander, S. Unsworth, and C. Fraser (honorary). Owing to the chamber's regular meeting night clashing with meetings of the borough council it. was decided to meet in future on the second Wednesday in each month.

In view of the changed half-holiday, Mr. Allardice moved: “That it be a recommendation to business people to pay wages and salaries in the middle of the week, preferably on Thursday. Mr. S. J. Williams seconded the motion, which was carried.

Frontiersman Farewelled. Mr. B. W. Croker, of Dannevirke, who will leave at the end of the week to take up residence in Auckland, and who until two months ago was commanding officer of the Dannevirke troop of the New Zealand Legion of Frontiersmen, was presented with a silver ink and pencil staud, combined with paper weights, at a social last evening. Commanding Officer Lieut J. Dales, who made the presentation, spoke enthusiastically of Mr. Croker’s services in connection with the legion.

British Drama League Council. Mr. E. N. Hogben, M.A., principal of Dannevirke High School, has been reelected a member of the council of the New Zealand brunch of the Britir-li Drama League.

In a recent toy balloon race starting from Colchester, Englund, the first bn. loon to be returned arrived from Holland, having landed there the same daj it was released.