HOSPITAL SALARIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 15

HOSPITAL SALARIES

Sir, —It is to be regretted that a writer who is credited with sound judgment, as Mr. Darlow is, should have used so many vague generalities in his letter of. Thursday's date, because it made it provocative. He says my letter is futile, but I ask him does he know what tho medical salaries or costs are at the infirmary to-day, compared with, say, a year ago? Can he compare administrative costs at the hospital within the compass of the same period? He is a little hard to understand when he refers to sophistry, and that there has been no material alteration ill prevailing conditions during the past year. Has he been asleep during the past seven months, when about every prevailing financial condition under the sun has been altered? The reference to lack of capacity is not Mr. Darlow's usual method of controversy when he is sincerely debating a vital point, and what does he mean by it when the welfare of scores of worthy people, who are trying to the best of their ability to cope with a difficult situation, is at stake? Our position at the hospital and other institutions is very acute to-day; expansion is needed, but it is thwarted by financial contraction, and unfortunately while this state of affairs exists salaries suffer more than they ought to do. Surely this is a candid admission, which shows which way our thoughts and wishes tegd, and does not show any lack of capacity or appreciation of the present unsatisfactory position existing, in not only our own hospital, but every hospital in the Dominion to-day. W. K. Howitt.