MINISTER DEFIED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 9

MINISTER DEFIED

HOSPITMi ESTIMATES

REFUSAL TO CURTAIL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

GBEYMOUTH, 18th June,

The Grey Hospital Board receiitly decided to effect economies in view of tba reduction in the Government's subsidy, but not : to reduce staff 'salaries. by: 10 per cent. The . Health ■ JDepartmeirt, however,- refused-to sanction" the-^sti-mates unless the.board also Cut'wages and salaries. The board then'decided unanimously, that it Would rather .-resign than comply with the ' Department 's i direction.'

At to-night's meeting a letter from the Minister of Health/the Hon.: A. J. Stallworthy, stated that the. Government had decided, .that, the-ratepayers should share in .tli.o reduction to be:made in the board's1, expenditure; and that tho levy on local authorities", bo limited. Therefore, exercising the powers under Section 4(5 (3) of the Hospitals Act, the Minister required: the board to amend this years-- estimates by reducing those for maintenance by £1010, and by reducing the levies to £8331. . -...- ■■■-. Tho board, however,- in . accordanco with'its previous stand,, passed. Unanimously, .the following resolution: —": . That/as the requisition of the "Minister of Health to amend, the'estimates is solely a mandate that the board reduce' salaries and wages, tho Minister be advised that as the board declines to reduce salaries and wages it is. not prepared to amend its. estimates, and if the payment, of the subsidy in consequence of such refusal is withheld, each board member hereby undertakes, to hand to the.. secretary of the board his-or hcr'resignation. .. ■ ' •' ■ .. " '. ..."..' The chairman, Mr. J. "VV.iilannan, pointed out that tho cost per'occupied bed, including all-salaries and charges, was no higher; hero than in. hospital* which the Minister quoted .as having reduced salaries; also that as probationers here formed 40 per cent, pftha wholo hospital staff tho rato of' pay of the trained staff of Grey Hosp'itarmust be lower than the average at the other hospitals .mentioned.^ For the; De.part-. ment, to determine tho" levy was. a» usurpation of the board's functions.'o