WELLINGTON HOUSE SURGEONS RESENT “LIVING-IN” CUT

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 May 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON HOUSE SURGEONS RESENT “LIVING-IN” CUT

Covert Threat to Board STRONGLY RESENTED BY MEMBERS WELLINGTON, Last Night. Simultaneously with the insertion of an advertisement in the city press that they would be glad to hear of vacancies on other hospitals or locums, the house surgeons of the Wellington hospital wrote to the board protesting against the assessment of “living in" accommodation as a means of further reducing their salaries. This method of protest was described by members of the board to-day as unconstitutional and most improper. It was suggested that the services of the complainants should be dispensed with immediately and a call made for volunteers. The board, however, decided to review the whole question at a special meeting on Tuesday next. Upon intimation from the Department that it was not prepared to recommend the Minister to approve its estimates until the amount had been reduced from £14*4,623 to £129,789 the Hospital Board decided to make the necessary adjustments to enable this to be done. A special meeting of the board will be held on Tuesday next. The adjustment will involve an alteration in the apportionment of the levy upon local bodies.

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL’S TEN PER CENT. “CUT.” WELLINGTON, Last Night. Without discussion the Wellington Hospital Board passed a resolution that all honoraria, salaries and wages excepting award wages be reduced 10 per cent. In the case of those paid monthly the reduction is to operate from April 1 and in the case of those paid weekly from April 30. It was decided that in addition to this reduction all members of the staff “living in,” except first, second, third and fourth year nurses, shall have the equivalent of 10 per cent of the value of their emoluments deducted from their salaries or wages. Those conditions do not apply to appointments made since December 1, 1930, if the commencing salaries are below the .schedule rate. The new conditions are to remain in operation until December 31, 1932, when according to the resolution the whole position will be reviewed by the board.