ALLOWANCE TO MEMBERS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14722, 12 August 1921, Page 6

ALLOWANCE TO MEMBERS

INADEQUACY OF PAYMENT. COMPLAINT FROM HAWERA BOARD. The Hawcra Hospital Board advised the Waikato Board yesterday thai at recent meetings the matter of travelling allowance for members of hospital boards had been considered, and the Dominion boards were to be circularised on the subject. It had loner been realised, the communication stated, that the amount allowed under the 1009 Act, Is per mde counted one way, was quite inadequate but as promises of amendment had been secured, the Hawcra Board had delayed action. The promised amendment was made in 1920, and gave power to the Governor-General to prescribe the amount that may be paid by boards to their members. The Hawera Board was far from satisfied with the amount allowed. The cost of travelling was greater than the amount allowed, with the result that members were out of pocket for every mile travelled on hospital business. The particular item to which exception was taken "by the Hawera Board was found in (b) of the Gazetted regulations, which prescribed that where no public conveyance was available Ihe expense attaching to a member's own use for a horse or vehicle may be refunded at a rate not exceeding 8d per mile counted both ways. There were also two glaring anomalies in these regulations, the Hawem Board contended. A man could trnve five miles on horseback and draw Sd per mile. The actual cost in reality was so small that it could not be measured, yet he drew the same rate of pay as a member who travelled in his own car 35 miles (as happens at Hawera) on iback country roads, probably unmetailed and full of pot-holes. Again, if some member chose not to use his own car he would he entitled under the regulations to order a taxi or some oilier conveyance, which would result in a very heavy charge. As members of boards gave Iheir time gratis, and often at considerable sacrifice while they also in many eases provided their own car for travelling, the Hawera Board considered it most unjust that member should be required to be out of pocket. The Waikato Board was asked to co-operate in making representations to the Governor-General to have Ihe allowance increased and whether it was considered that the suggested amount, is per mile each way, covered the actual cost of motor-car travelling. Air Conradi questioned whether a member would be entitled to order a taxi, as was contended by the Hawera - Board. One important point that had apparentlv been overlooked by. thewriters was the fact that members could draw 20s for each 24 hours of attendance on hospital business, in addition to the 8d per mile. The Board decided to brine: Ihe fact referred to by the secretary' before the southern board.