NURSES’ SALARIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 98, 25 March 1941, Page 5

NURSES’ SALARIES.

INCREASE IN AUCKLAND. COST TO BOARD.. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. March 24. After a resolution proposing a £lO increase in the annual salaries of aIL nurses had been lost at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board to-night, a further motion providing for a £5 increase was carried by a majority of one. Subsequently the chairman (Mr A Hall MoodV‘l gave notice of motion to rescind the decision at the next meeting of the board. > 1 The discussion arose when the hoard was considering a special report from the finance and purchasing committee dealing with salaries. This showed that, the cost of the increases recommenced as a result of the annual revision of salaries, and excluding grading increases, and those due under awards, would be £1573 for the year ended March 31, 1941. It was estimated that salaries would amount to £270,000. compared with £230.913 in 1939-40 and £91,500 in 1933-34. In 1933-34 the staff totalled 742 and in 1939-40' it was 1368, while at the end of the present year it would he approximately 1650. including 91 employees on military service and 50 part-time visiting staff. The increase of £lO for nurses was proposed hv Mr G. T. Parvin. Mr Moody said he thought the nurses were being very well treated and explained that the increase would involve about £SOOO. The motion was lost, Rev. \Y. C. Wood then moving that an increase of £5 a year he given. “We are not a Labour Government, always going upward and onward,” said Mr Moody in objecting. If lie were re-elected to the board at the next election he would seriously consider moving for a decrease rather than an increase in the higher-paid salaries. The increase was approved.