REDUCTION OF STAFF

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1922, Page 6

REDUCTION OF STAFF

HOSPITAL BOARD'S DECISION

ThX recoirimendafcion of tie Hospit?.! Committee that the out-door staff be induced: by five, as detailed) m The Post, treated some discussion at the meeting' of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday affe'rna>n. The Teason foi the proposal was sought by Mr. J. Glovfer, and, h . reply, the Rev. H. Van Stavereh £ " the assurance that the efficiency of the work would hot b% inipaired by the reduction, which was Tecdmmerided after thorough eonsideratio'ti/ Mr. B. Vine thought that no, injustice was being clrme to anybody. The members of the board were in the position, of employers, and they owed a duty to themselves and to the public. If the lften were kept on - when there was no Ay»rk for them to do they (the board) would be, doing1 no good to ihem'selves and no good to the country. , In the opinion of Mr. J. W. Butler, close on £1000 per year would be saved by the cut. Mr. A. $-. Hornblow expressed the view, that there was room for much greater reduction in the expenditure. In his opinion,- a saving of about £5000 per year could be effected without any interference with the efficiency of th-e work. It was a matter that required investigation, and if any further reduction Of expense was to be made the time was now opportune tot action in that direction.

The actine-chainriari (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) explained that the present recommendation was being riiade' ) ~~becanse a good deal of special work was being completed, and it was considered that the ordinary work, could be carried on by the reduced staff.

Mr. J. Qloyer considered that the board was acting" unjustly and wrongly towards the men it .proposed to dismiss., There was always arty amount, of work' to be done at the hospital. The reaos> for the proposal seemed to be a desir to follow ■the'.Govefnment's retrenchmer. iicheme. He likened the board's actio to' that of the "sheep following the shep herd.". As an amendment,, he move: that the matter be referred back to th Hospital Committee. The amendment was defeated by T votes to' 5, and the. reeommindaiio:; adopted.