HUTT HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1942, Page 7

HUTT HOSPITAL

BUILDING DELAY

WAGES AT AUCTION

Lack of man-power and aversion to paying higher than award rates ■ to attract men from other jobs were reasons given at the Hospital Board meeting last night for the long delay in building the Lower Hutt hospital. Some members apparently were willing to pay higher rates in order jto get the / building up for the peak load next winter, but they were reminded that they would be merely attending an auction and would have to outbid those who were paying more than award rates now. Reports of deputations in camera to the Minister of Health disclosed little result, and it was decided to arrange a public deputation to the Prime Minister, Minister of Health, and Minister of Man-power, asking that hospital work be declared an essential industry and that wages be stabilised. The hospital was losing men to jobs which suited them better, said Mr. H. F. Toogood, chairman of the building committee. The men were working under award conditions, yet only 27 j out of 35 were left on the job the week, before last. The matter sadly needed regulation by some authority If they went on losing men they would reach . absolute stagnation. If the board was going to\ raise wages, let it do so; if it wished, wages to be stabilised, let it go to the authority responsible and get at the-root of the matter. ; The matter had been adequately represented to the Minister of Health, said the chairman, Mr. F. Castle. It was a national policy of the Government that hospital work was essential, but the order of priority rested with it. It was a question of man-power, - and certain undertakings were paying . more. In the case of the Government not taking steps, would the board "face tl issue? Power rested with the Government, which knew all the facts. SHOWDOWN WANTED. Mr. Toogood moved that a public deputation wait on the Prime Minister, the ivlinister of Health, and the Minister of Man-power and ask that hospital work be declared an essential industry and that the Government determine some policy of stability in respect to the payment of wages. '■■■■"' Mr. J. C. Crawford, seconding the motion, said it was essential that they should have an understanding and a • showdown on this matter. Mr. Toogood: We must go with one voice. ■ , The chairman said it was not fair to speak that way. There were two points of view as to the means of getting t thing's done, but that did not mean .that the board had two minds on the .matter. Asked by Mrs. E. Mi'Gilmer what had been the results of his visit to the .Minister, Mr^ Castle said that the difficulties had been fully explained, and 'the Minister had. said that /he was . taking all,the steps he knew to bring about a better : state of affairs. Disagreement in the policy and finance committee was.one of th^e reasons why the ..work was not going on, said Mr. O'Shea. (Cries of No! No!) . The. point had only, arisen recently, . said Mr. Toogood-. . It was not for the board, as trustees of public money, to enter into debates on high wages. The Government had issued a policy of stabilisation, and . should adhere to it. ;.,.,..The men ..were .leaving, them- for; .' higher wages, ' said Mrs. S. E. Blake. It was the .money they were after. / They.could not be blamed. Award rates' should be, abided by, said Miss I. Cable. ,-■/ "K you meet the higher prices, you are going to. attend an auction for labour," said Mr. Cederholm. "Can the board afford to be. the higher -bidder? It would only stimulate a spiral." Either they must meet competitive - conditions, or the Government must do what they asked, said the chairman. "I do, not care where you fix the stabilisation of wages," said Mr. Too.good, "but it is the stability that is wanted. Once you go into the market you must maintain the position. A bricklayer today is getting 4s an hour. Perhaps he is worth it. Ido not know."

The motion was carried on the voices.

A report submitted to the t board showed that expenditure to date on the Hutt Valley hospital was. £128,540 —£63,282 on the nurses' home and £65,258 on the main block.