SUPERINTENDENT’S SALARY

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1933, Page 8

SUPERINTENDENT’S SALARY

MOVE TO REDUCE DEFEATED. HOSPITAL BOARD DISCUSSION. When it was suggested at the last meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board that the salary of the medical superintendent (Dr. D. Steven) be reduced from £585 per year to £5OO the ensuing discussion resulted in Messrs W. L. Kennedy (chairman), J. Cormick and L. Bunn being appointed to report on that suggestion and on any other possible avenues of economy. The reports were received at yesterday’s meeting of the board. Messrs Bunn and Cormick recommended the reduction but the chairman proposed that no immediate reduction be made and Mr. Bunn’s motion that his and Mr. Cormick’s report be adopted was lost by four votes to three.

Messrs Bunn and Cormick recommended that the salary of the medical superintendent be reduced to £5OO per annum. They considered that it was not possible to recommend any other economies consistent with maintaining efficiency of service. Mr. Kennedy recommended that no immediate reduction be made in the superintendent’s salary, but that if circumstances should make a saving in expenditure unavoidable the reduction be not more than 10 per cent, of the present salary of £585. Mr. Kennedy considered that no further economies could be made consistent with maintaining efficiency of service. Mr. Kennedy quoted figures showing that the medical salaries per occupied bed at New Plymouth amounted to £1423, at Hawera £20.0 and at Stratford £18.5. Contending that the salary was too high for A part-time superintendent, Mr. Bunn moved that his and Mr. Cormick’s report be adopted. “In the past economy has been practised to such an extent that there is no avenue now for further economy, except for the doctor’s salary, and in consequqence our subsidy has 'been reduced though we have had no thanks from anyone for lowering our costs,” Mr. Cormick said.

Mr. M. Gemhoefer pointed out that the ante-natal clinic and 12 more beds had been added to the hospital in recent years, thus increasing the doctor’s work to a great extent. Dr. Steven was recognised throughout Taranaki as a very clever and competent doctor. He would not support the reduction. “It would be a grave mistake at this juncture to reduce the superintendent’s salary and I would be sorry to see this motion carried,” Mr. G. P. Harkness said. The chairman stated that it was the general opinion throughout the town that the present efficiency of the Stratford Hospital was due to Dr. Steven. Nine years ago the ante-natal clinic was put under his care and the record of the clinic had been described by a member of the British Medical Association as unique for the world. There were doctors and doctors, and though a permanent doctor could probably 'be secured at £5OO a year there was no guarantee that such a man would give the same satisfaction as Dr. Steven gave. Mr. Bunn: He has had a 10 per cent, cut, but look at the cut the farmers have had; also the business men and the townspeople. The matron has a great deal of responsibility on her shoulders and yet she gets only £220. The county cannot collect rates in many instances and yet the hospital levy has been increased this year. While Dr. Steven may have made the hospital the hospital has helped to make him and the hospital owes 'him nothing on that point. The motion was lost by four votes to three. Those voting for were Messrs Bunn and Cormick and Mrs. M. T. Phillips, and against Messrs Kennedy, Gemhoefer, Harkness and Mrs. D. Shannon. EAST COMMITTEE’S REVENUE. WEATHER CAUSES DECREASE. ’’Owing to the very wet weather—there was only one fine week-end last month—our revenue was lower than for some time,” said the chairman, Mr. J. C. Robins, at the meeting of the East Committee of the Egmont National Park Board at Stratford last night “For the four months, April to July inclusive,” he added, “the total was £9 14s 6d less than in that period last year. For July the decrease tvas £l7, but already the August receipts are greater.” The chairman stated that £l7 was owing for the telephone, half of which the Park Board was liable to pay. “The trouble with the board is that it has no funds though it admits- its liability,” Mr. Anderson said. It was decided to send £8 10s to the board, thus discharging the liability of the committee. Mr. Thomson referred to the chairman’s suggestion in a circular to members that meetings be held quarterly in future and moved that the suggestion be adopted. While the committee was so busily engaged on developmental work, he said, monthly meetings were warranted, but now that there was not so ( much for the committee to do, quarterly meetings would be sufficient. - The motion was carried and a subcommittee consisting of Messrs Robins, Anderson and C. R. Finnerty was appointed to deal with urgent matters between meetings. Present at the meeting were Messrs J. C. Robins (chairman), W. L. Kennedy, T. R. Anderson, J. T. Belcher, P. Thomson, W. Williams and J. C. Allen. PERSONAL ITEMS. A vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr. E. Marfell was carried at yesterday’s annual meeting of the Stratford Demonstration Farm Society. That he was largely recovered and would 'be able to attend the next meeting of the board was the information contained in a letter to the Stratford Hospital Board yesterday from Mr. J. O’Neill, a board member, who is in hospital at Wellington. He voiced his appreciation of the board’s expression of sympathy to him.