PATEA HOSPITAL WAGES

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 8

PATEA HOSPITAL WAGES

DEPARTMENT INSISTS UPON CUT. THOSE UNDER £96 EXCEPTED. When the Patea Hospital Board considered its estimates a month ago various savings, amounting to £9OO, were made, including £lOO on salaries and wages. Yesterday, however, the board was advised, by the Department of Health that the estimates would not be approved until a 10 per cent, cut in wages and salaries had been made. The board decided to make the cut apply only to those who were receiving more than £9O per annum and to the operating fees of doctors. “1 am pleased to note, - ’ wrote Dr. Watt, '“that your board is fully alive to the need for economy. I rgret to hear, however, that your board has not yet reduced salaries and wages. .1. would point out that the income of almost every section of tho community has been considerably reduced, and in view of the large proportion of hospital finance contributed by public funds tlierq is no reason why hospital employees should not assist in bearing a national burden. No exception can be made in your case and I am unable to recommend the approval of the board’s estimates until salaries and wages have been reduced.” .

The chairman (Air. C. R. Honeyfield) remarked that the letter came as a bombshell seeing that the salaries had already been reduced. He moved that the reduction apply to those receiving more than £9O a year and to the fees of doctors.

Air. R. G. Scown thought a 10 per cent, cut might decrease efficiency. The board’s salaries were not as high as those of others, he believed. The opinion that the reduction would penalise the staff without benefitting the board was voiced by the clerk, Air. \V. F. Shield. It was suggested that the collection of patients’ fees could be improved, but that was impossible, and in a few months, he thought, they would not know where to look for money. Air, C. E. Johnston thought everyone should share in the cut. Air. H. Middleton said the department 1 was trying to meet the financial position. Air. R. J. Watt said no exceptions could be made. Air. A. T. Christiansen said they would have to do what they were told, although the board had promised not to reduce salaries any further. The chairman’s motion was carried. The Department of Health also advised that sanction to strike a capital levy would not be granted as the board had funds in hand. Members agreed that though the capital account funds were earmarked for special purposes the department’s ruling would have to be accepted.