BLAME FOR HIGH RUNNING COSTS OF HOSPITALS

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 September 1950, Page 6

BLAME FOR HIGH RUNNING COSTS OF HOSPITALS

I WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA).— | Allegations that the professional and technical heads of departments in New i Zealand hospitals built up their departments for their own •‘glorification” and "personal advancement” were made by the Hon. F. G. Young on behalf oof the hospital domestic workers in the Court of Arbitration today. “Some publicity has been given recently to rising costs in hospital administration,” said Mr. Young. “If this factor were to be taken into account by the Court in settling the dispute we would like to point out that nurses and workers covered by the Domestic Workers' Award have onlyasked for and received wages and conditions in line with other industrial workers.’ The cause of the undue rising costs had to be sought in other quarters. Mr. Young then made allegations referred to. Mr. Justice Tyndall, after an attendant had given evidence that his weekly gross wage was £7 13s lid, said the big increase in hospital costs had obviously not been brought about by the attendant concerned and his fellowworkers. Judge Tyndall said: "These increases are a matter of great public concern.” In the dispute before the Court Mr. Young was seeking increases in travelling allowances for workers on broken shifts and increases in the hourly rates for casual workers. The Court reserved its decision.