THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY FRIDAY “Public Service” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1949 PAYMENT FOR ABILITY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4144, 8 June 1949, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY FRIDAY “Public Service” WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1949 PAYMENT FOR ABILITY

On more than one occasion in the past year local authorities and other public bodies have ; been frustrated through Government intervention in matters re- j lating to salaries offered for specified posts. Earlier this ; a crisis developed at the Dunedinnt Public Hospital through inabil- .• ity to secure an anaesthetist for the neuro-surgical unit—a specialist unit meeting the needs of the*Dominion as a whole. In this instance the hospital board’s chairman disclaimed responsibility on the grounds that the Government, though repeatedly advised of the crisis that might arise, had rejected the board’s suggestion that a higher salary be offered for the post. Stabilisation, the board’s comment implied, had been allowed to stand in the way of an essential health service. 4)

Difficulties of this nature were also encountered when plans were being made for the new obstetrical specialist unit at Auckland. Once again the Government would not confirm the salary which it was proposed should be offered in order to secure an expert of outstanding merit. The same problem now faces the University of New Ze^- s land. In order to ensure the efficient administration of higher education in the Dominion, the Senate recently decided to appoint a full time vice-chancellor at a salary of £2OOO a year. This post demanded the services of an administrative and educational specialist of high standing, who would be largely responsible for" the quality of university education in New Zealand and for the efficient co-ordination of the work of the constituent colleges and the various special schools and other units associated with them. The Government, however, has rejected the Senate’s proposal with regard to salary, in spite of the fact that worldwide applications have already been called.

It is humiliating enough for the University Senate to break faith with overseas and New Zealand applicants by advising them that, because of Government intervention, an appointment cannot now be made on the basis of the advertised terms. The principle at issue, however, goes further than this. Whatever may be the opinion of experts who have been elected or appointed to administer public amenities such as hospitals or universities, it is presumably to be overridden by the Cabinet Minister in charge of internal stabilisation. The necessity of securing the best man available for each specialist post is of secondary importance to the Jm-ernment. The same principle is invoked where talented young New Zealanders, prevented from securing adequate remuneration under a restricted salary policy, are forced overseas in search of salaries commensurate with ability. While stabilisation is administered with bureaucratic disregard for the opinion of imand experienced authorities, New Zealand must in the future anticipate difficulty in securing the best men for particular specialist posts, and must mntinue to lose its own best men to the more favourable overseas appointment market.