£400,000 IN WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 2

£400,000 IN WAGES

THE HOSPITAL BOABD NURSES' PAY INCREASED Among a number of E.alary increases recommended to the Auckland Hospital Board last night by its Finance and Purchasing Committee was a ge a . eral increase of £lO a year in the salaries of nurses. After discussion the board decided that this should be £l3 a year. Figures given by the committee showed that the stuff in the board's institutions and departments ihad increased from 776 in 1936 to 2315 in 1943 and the total wages paid had, in the same period, risen from 4;11L400 to an estimated figure of £399,103. The extra £3 a year for the nurses would bring this total to over £400,000. Living Costs asid Industries When the recommendation for the £lO a year increase for nurses came before the board, Mr. G. T. Parvin said he considered it inadequate, in view of the higher cost of living and he moved an amendment that it be £l3. Supporting the amendment, Mrs. M, M. Dreaver said the board was trying to get girls to come forward as probationers when industries were paying much higher salaries and also providing uniforms and clothing. They should offer greater inducements to girls to become nurses. The chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, " said every increase meant a rise in tlie levies on" local bodies. The increase of £lO a year amounted to £8232 to he found by the board and to give an extra £3 would mean another £2469. Value o! Prolession The worth of nurses should b'3 judged by the work they did, contended Mr. J. Sayegh, who added that nurses worked much harder than soms people who received £7 and £8 a week in industry. . - In paying nurses the board could not expect to compote with trades and industries. said Mr. J. Victor Mackr. Nurses had a profession which would stand to them when others were out of work. They would not go into the profession if they did not see its advantages. The amendment was carried by seven votes to five. The committee, in its report, stated that the total cost of its suggested increases of salaries and wages, excluding grading increases and those due under awards, would be £10.404. The report, as amended, was adopted. The increase in nurses' salaries applies to nurses in training, trained nurses, sisters no to and including first assistant lady superintendents at all institutions, matrons of the subsidiary hospitals and nursing aids at the Franklin Memorial Hospital. Warkworth Cottage Hospital and Wilson Home.