CUTS IN SALARIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21755, 21 March 1934, Page 12

CUTS IN SALARIES

HOSPITAL BOARD ATTITUDE REVISION TO BE CONSIDERED OPPOSITION OF DEPARTMENT The Auckland Hospital Board yesterday declined to accept as final the advice of the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, that no salary reductions should be restored, and the board will hold a special meeting next month to consider revision of salaries from £350 downward. Dr. Watt had circularised all boards stating that in view of the present financial position no increase in the estimates for the year for the purpose of restoring salary cuts would bo agreed to. Members took the view that many of tlio staff were underpaid, and that the time had arrived for a revision. The chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, said he had made inquiries into this matter while in Wellington, and learned that the official view was that if the Government agreed to the restoration of salary cuts by hospital boards it could not then withhold the restoration of cuts in the civil service. "I am sorry the Government has not seen fit to restore at least a portion of the cuts," said Mr. Wallace. "Purchasing power is going down all the time." The board, he said, regularly revised salaries in the month of April. No increase had been granted to any of the staff during the past year, apart from the annual increases to nurses. Many of the lower-paid members of the staff were on the bread line all the time. He moved that at a special meeting the board consider revising salaries under £350 a year for the purpose of putting under-paid officers on a fair and reasonable basis. Mr. W. G. Mulholland said he was sorry to sec the Director-General's letter, although he quite expected it. "As long as such bodies as this accept dictation from the Government, wo will I never get anywhere," he said. The 10 per cent cut had defeated its own object by cutting down the spending power of the people. Prices of commodities to-day were higher than last year, for instance, in sugar, meat and now. milk. Mr. E. H. Potter said they could not overlook the fact that the Government contributed part of their expenses, so it was not altogether a local body matter. The hope that the board would give a generous rise to some of the seniors was expressed by Mr. W. K. Howitt. Some of them were getting a miserable salary, although they carried a heavy responsibility. He hoped no limit would be fixed to the scope of revision. Mrs. M. M. Dreaver said that the board's action meant a load to the whole Dominion. If they did not want to call it restoring cuts, they could give an. all-round increase. Mr. Wallace said his idea in fixing a limit was that they would not be acting contrary to the department's instruction. If they were going to deal with all the salaries it would be throwing back at them and there would be trouble. The resolution was adopted.