“GILBERTIAN” ACTION OF STATE OVER SALARY OF PATHOLOGIST

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 June 1948, Page 6

“GILBERTIAN” ACTION OF STATE OVER SALARY OF PATHOLOGIST

(P.A > Palmeislon N.» June 28. “The State with its left hand (the Director of Stabilisation) now seeks to erase what its right hand (the Minister of Health) has written," said Dr. O. C. Mazengarb. in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court today, when defending the Palmerston North Hospital Board on charges that it had been guilty of breaches of the stabilisation regulations.

"This Gilbertian situation would be comical if it were not so pitiful; it is an illustration ot bureaucracy at its worst.” he said.

Dr. Mazengarb was referring to a charge concerning the salary of the board’s assistant pathologist, who was appointed two years ago. his salary being authorised by the Minister of Health. The orosecution Claimed that the amount payable should have been taxed by the Wages Commissioner. Other charges concerned wages paid to the board's radiologist, assistant medical superintendent and pathologist, all of which were stated by the prosecution to be well above the rates paid in 1342Dr. Makengarb said that if the board was compelled to pay smaller amounts, a serious position would arise, in that it would have difficulty in keeping up its specialist statf. He added that the rates naid by the board were less than those paid by other boards in New Zealand, and which had been authorised bv the Wages Conunisisoner. Decision was reserved.