LOST BY ONE VOTE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19807, 24 May 1934, Page 5

LOST BY ONE VOTE

MOTION TO INCREASE WAGES. By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH. May 23. Another attempt to persuade the North Canterbury Hospital Board to restore part of the wage cuts to its employees made by Mr W. P. Spencer, at to-day’s meeting of the Board, failed by one vote. Mr Spencer moved that the decision of the Board made at the last meeting not to increase by 5 per cent, salaries and wages of those earning £2OO a year or less should be rescinded. The motion was defeated by 10 votes to nine, but Mr Spencer announced his intention to move at the Board’s nert meeting that the wages of all employees receiving £IOO a year or less should be increased by 10 per cent. Because they did not vote for the proposal to restore the wage reductions, seven members of the board’s finance committee were bitterly attacked by Mr J. K. Archer, who moved that the following members of the committee should be discharged—Sir Hugh Acland, Messrs H. R. Davison, L. B. Evans, H. H. Holland, D. McMillan, H. J. Otley, and F. Rowell. After a spirited exchange of hostilities, Mr Archer’s suggestion was defeated, only three members beside himself voting for it. “The Finance Committee as it is at present is totally unfit to have charge of the board’s affairs,” said Mr Archer. “It is the board’s duty to look after the sick and the poor, but it seems to me that the finance committee is more willing to grind the faces of the poor. It has not the confidence of 30 per cent of the electors.” Mrs E. R. McCombs, M.P., seconded the motion as a protest against the refusal of the finance committee to recommend the restoration of the wage cuts. She said that she did not understand the attitude of the medical men on the board. They did not seem to realise that they depended on the efficiency of the nurses, and that nurses were essential in some cases where doctors were practically useless.

Mr Archer called for a division. He himself, Mrs McCombs, Mrs T. Green, and Mr J. S. Barnett being the only ones to support the motion.