PECULIAR POSITION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 373, 7 November 1932, Page 2

PECULIAR POSITION

SALARY QUESTION DIVIDES OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT It was expected that there would be little but routine business at thT" monthly meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board, but the matter of the salary of an official caused .a veiy lengthy discussion during which a motion was tabled which in effeet was one of no-confidence in the committpe and Mr. G. Powell who comprise the hospital farm management committee. When the question of the board'sfarm manager's salary was discussed tho ehairman (Mr. F. J. Short) reported that the manager had offered a voluntary reduction of 10/- per week. - Mr. F. McDonnell moved that thq board offer him £150 a year "and he'U be the best paid cow spanker in the Bay at that." Mr. C. Black, in seconding, pointed out that the turnover of the farm was only about £500 per year and that at £3 per week the manager was being well paid. Mr. G. Powell did not agree with this view. When the farm was taken up it was only let at £15 per annum and eveft that was not collected. Mr. McDonnell: Whose fault was that? Mr. Powell: Not mine, I wasn't on the board then. Continuing, Mr. Powell said that the farm was producing vegetables worth at least £240 a year for the hospital and saving that amo.unf for the ratepayers; the present manager had worlced up to 7 cows and Mr. ' Short had lent three cows, horses and separator. If these were removed the board would have nothing left. Mr. Tabb, the manager had served the board well and had used his own car for the work of the board without any return. Both Mr. Short and the speaker thought that as they had been appointed as farm committee, they would certainly resign if • the resolution was carried. "We are tired of these pin pricks," he concluded. Not Return for Money Mr. G. Shalfoon paid a tribute to the work of the manager, but contended that there was no return for the money. The board would have to buy any vegetables which it now required. "There is nothing growing but weeds now," he said. Mr. Powell pointed out that three lots of seeds had been taken by birds this season. 0 Mr. Black explained that he had intended no criticism of the two members of the board who were managing the farm, nor was he saying anything against the manager. . What he meant was a criticism of the board's ability in its straitened meaqs to pay these wages. The board was there to administer the ratepayers' money. As a ratepayer, he knew that the settlers were hard put to meet their obligations. Cannot Alford It

Mr. I. H. Reid expressed his agreement with Mr. Black's remarks. The board was not entitled to run an overdraft and had to get special permission. "ihe speaker was not in favour of cutting down wages but the board could not afford it. • The ehairman agreed that the board was paying a big wage for a farm manager, but that was beeause it had a good farm manager. He did liis work well and was always op time with the milk. Members failed to draw the comparison between an ordinary farm hand and- a farm manager. As far'as his own cows were concerned he would willingly lend them to the hospital under a good man but not with any hand. As far as the overdraft went had the board not had the farm and had had to buy vegetables, butter and milk its overdraft would have been much larger. Milk and butter alone had formerly cost £225 per annum as well as paying a gardener-porter £3 10s per week. The farm was not paying, but if the board had no farm it would be much worse off. Mr. G. Moody said that he did not like to cut a man's wages down especially a good man; he himself had paid his hand inereased wages, but there were many married men who would be glad to get the job at £3 per. week. ' The ehairman moved as an amendment that the board ac.cept the offer of a reduction of 10/- per week and this was seconded by Mr. Powell. Mr. Black: "You're putting us in an awkward position, Mr. ehairman, ; rin.ee if we vote against it, it's like a vote of no-confidence and we don't mean that. Mr. Black then said that with the permission of Mr. McDonnell he > would suggest that the amendment be accepted and that the position be reviewed. He would not like to see a : resolution go forward of that sort. Mr. McDonnell then moved that £3 5s be the wage. The ehairman: That's a quibble over two bob! The ehairman and Mrf Powell then gave instances where a number of free services had been give.n by them which would cease if the motion was carried. Mr. Black then said that he wanted the motion withdrawn. The board finally resolyed to accept the farm hand's offer, and to raview the position o'n March 31.