DOCTORS’ SALARIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 14

DOCTORS’ SALARIES

HONORARY STAFF CHRISTCHURCH SCALE VIGOROUS OPPOSITION (Tor Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The payment of £11.450 yearly to the doctors of the honorary staff of the Christchurch Public Hospital, was approved at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. Formerly doctors were admitted to the hospital on an honorary footing, but under the social security scheme the Health Department approves of payment on a part-time basis. The doctors will receive salaries of up to £550 yearly. Approval of the salary scale, which is the product of months of negotiation, was vigorously opposed by two members of the board who objected to the manner in which the resolution was brought forward. Motion to Rescind When a decision was reached, Mr. H. E. Denton gave notice of motion to have it rescinded. The chairman, Mr. L. B. Evans, said that the schedule of salaries had been arrived at by the board and the medical representatives at 6.30 on the evening before the meeting. That was why copies could not be sent out to members and why there were only two copies available now. Dr. A. R. Shore, director of the hospitals division of the Health Department, had been telephoned when the schedule was agreed upon and he said “yes” to it. Mr. Evans said that some of the rates in the schedule were lower than those put forward in Auckland and Wellington and some were higher. The proposals were to operate for one year on trial.