SALARY CUTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 230, 27 August 1935, Page 3

SALARY CUTS

RESTORATION POLICY

HOSPITAL BOARD’S POSITION

The policy "to he followed in the restoration of salary cuts was the subiect of a memorandum received by the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday, when it was pointed cut that the hoard had already given a lead in this direction.

“As requested by a number of-the hospital boards,” stated the Hospital Boards’ Association in a letter on the subject, “the executive considered the whole question and, being impressed with the fact that practically all of the hospital boards desire to make a restoration of the cuts, and of the definite trend of public opinion in this direction, resolved to request the Government to permit hospital boards to make a o per cent increase in salaries as from April 1, 1935. and to restore the balance of the cuts as from October 1. 1935. This resolution was submitted to the Minister of Health after the meeting, when the Minister stated that as hospital boards depend largely upon Governmen grants the policy of the Government is that restoration of cuts in excess of what has been done for Government employees cannot be subsidised by the Government. “The executive submitted to the Minister of Health a difficulty which will probably arise later in the financial year should the Government decide to make a further restoration of cuts, in which case hospital boards would be unable to follow the lead of the Government on account of lack of finance. Tn his reply, the Minister had stated: ‘Should it later in the year be found that the position of Government finances makes it possible to sanction general increases in salaries and wages, consideration will be given to each board’s budgetary position to determine what special assistance, if any, is needed to enable the board to grant such general increases. It is expected that, where necessary, the provisions of section 54 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1926, would be availed of in meeting temporarily any financial difficulty that might arise. Every endeavour is being and will be made to deal equitably with the various hospital boards in this matter.’ ”

“So far as we are concerned we took the bull by the horns and restored the cuts, paying them from April 1 last,” commented the chairman (Mr J. K. Hornblow). “We were not alone in that action and, in order to make the provision, went against the directions bv the department, which punished us by refusing a subsidy on tbe amount. We have paid the increases and given a lead. The resolution passed by the association and the Minister's reply thereto cannot affect our position, except that our contributing local bodies have been called upon to pay a little more.”

Tt was agreed, on the suggestion of Mr G. A. Monk, to carry on along the present lines and deal with the other aspect of the situation when it occurred on October 1. .

The Hospital Boards’ Association further intimated that it had drawn up a scale of the hare minimum salaries which it considered should be paid to sisters and nurses. It was pointed out that, although the rates set out were generally low, the scale took into account the imposition of the 10 per cent cut. The chairman pointed ont that the Palmerston North Board was paying rates well above this minimum.