THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOSPITAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7292, 23 November 1910, Page 1

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOSPITAL

HOUSE STEWARD’S SALARY COMPARISON OF WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND INSTITUTIONS. That tho salary of tho house steward. Mi' L. 11. Fox, he increased from <£225 to X 350 per annum, with free house, light, and fuel. The foregoing was a recommendation of the finance and property committee submitted to yesterday’s meeting of the I Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Air 13. R, Gardener took exception to an increase of salary being authorised prior-'to tho commencement of the/ next financial year. As a matter of fact some people had expressed tho opinion that tho affairs of the hospital could not ho conducted without the assistance of Mr Fox. Voices; Nonsense. Air Gardener said that much more efficiency would result if the duties of tho position were cut «x> and other officers given more responsibility. Mr Fox was given too much . responsibility, and this was not beneficial to the managem/ent generally of tho institution. They had even gone so far as to send tho house steward to Otaki to say what hospital buildings should he painted, and to draw up certain specifications. Ho would not say that tho officer in question was not worth <£3QO a year, but he objected on principle to increases being given at the present time. 'Wellington was paying 25 or 30 per cent.—<£2soo— in salaries, than was Auckland, and there were not so many beds here. It was time the whole staff of the hospital was reorganised. Air D.- Robertson said Air Fox was a thoroughly practical and efficient officer, and the hoard was only asked to do for hi,m what any private firm would do for a good servant rather than lose his services.

Rev. H. Van Staveren said that if Mr Gardener wore conversant with tho work of the hospital ho would not have spoken as he had. Hr Fox was an efficient servant, and his services should be recognised. In regard to the Auckland tal, it cost more to work that institution than was the case here. Mr Gardener: It does not.

While agreeing with the recommendation of the committee, Mr .T. Godber said Mr Gardener had a perfect right to speak as he had done, seeing that he took up exactly the same attitude at the committee (meeting when the increase was first discussed. Mr G. London said the committee had recognised that the - increase in salary was an exceptional matter. It was only through an oversight that Mr Fox's claim for consideration had not been recognised previously. Ho objected to Mr Gardener comparing the Wellington and Auckland institutions. A fair comparison was out of the question, because the returns from. Auckland were incomplete.

Mr Fitzgerald said it was wrong at the present juncture to give the increase, although the officer might be a very able and efficient servant. There were other good servants who should also bo considered for an increase of salary. By way of personal explanation Mr Gardener said that his statistics wore taken from Dr Valintine’s report, and they should be reliable. The recommendation was adopted.