SALARY OF SURGEON.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5252, 16 March 1928, Page 2

SALARY OF SURGEON.

DISCUSSION BY THAMES BOARD. RIGHT TO PRIVATE PRACTICE. At Monday’s meet’ng of the Thames Hospital Board a letter was received from the medical superintendent (Dr. W. Sowerby) applying for an increase in salary which, he pointed out, had at a previous meeting been deferred for consideration.

Dr. Sowerby also asked that he be allowed the right to private practice cutside the borough of Thames, asi a number of his country patients were compelled to consult other practitioners under the present restrictions in that connection.

In answer to'Mr Kennedy the chairman (Mr W- E. Hjile) said that it was a request for a rise in salary in addition to being allowed private practice.

I.t was moveil by Mr W. J. Hall that the salary be increased'to £650 a yearIn seconding the resolution. Mr A. R. Robinson said that 'he did so in view of the extra work thrown on the superintendent, and also because there was not the scope oytsicle tor private pract'cc. The present salary of £6OO was not commensurate with the work and responsibility of the institution.

It was pointed out by Mr Kennedy t;iat the board' was paying about £49 to £5O a month to an outside practitioner in lieu of having a. house surgeon. He thought an outside practice should fie allowed Dr. Sowerby. .

Mr Robinson thought that the medical superintendent was placed on an unequal footing with other doctors.

It was then moved fo increase the salary to £650 a year, anti' to allow the right of private practice within a 15-miles radius, of the Thames Borough for a period of six months. Mr Lange pointed out that if- the right of private practice was granted the hospital would be practically unattended 1 .

It was thought by Mr Flett that there wn.s a danger in allowing the superintendent to be away from the institution until such time as a competent house-surgeon was appointed. Mr P. E. Brenan considered that Paeroa was entitled to the doctor’s services, and the radius should be extended to 25 miles so long as it did not impair the efficiency of the institution. Objection was taken by Mr Lange to the superintendent being given an unfair advantage over the local practitioners, who 'were always filling to assist the board at the institution. A smilar view was taken by Mr Kennedy, who contended that a rise in salary was qu’te all right, but he strongly objected to the right of private .practice. The final resolution was that an increase of £5O be granted, also the right to private practice without limit of distance for a term of six months.

The resolution was carried, Messrs Kennedy, Flett, and Lange asking that their votes against be recorded.