Impressive new site

Press, 11 September 1989, Page 25

Impressive new site

The U.F.S. Dispensary is now established in one of four new retail shops in the High Street frontage of the nearly-completed United Building Society complex. During the last four years, U.FiS. has been located in Manchester Street while the United building was being built. The new architectur-ally-designed pharmacy is impressive. Massive columns support an unusually high ceiling and a well laid out retail area displays a wide variety of merchandise. Prescriptions are dispensed from a large open dispensary with computer facilities. While the U.F.S. Dispensary can claim to be one of the newest and most modern retail stores of its kind in Christchurch, it can also claim to be one of the oldest pharmacies still under the same ownership. “U.F.S.” is an abbreviation for “Christchurch United Friendly Societies’ Dispensary.” The firm was established in 1904 by various Friendly Societies to provide free medicines for their members and families. These societies comprised about 22 lodges and represented more than 2500 members who were mainly working class people. Seventeen doctors attached to the lodges provided free consultations as an extension to the free medicine service. Lodge members paid one shilling and sixpence (15 cents) each quarter to their particular lodge. From the resulting fund, two thirds was used to cover doctor consultations

and the remaining third went to the U.F.S.

The first U.F.S. Dispensary was at 709 Colombo Street. Previously, the business was owned by William Potter Townend who was well-known for his patent remedies. Some older Christchurch residents may still remember Sulphur Towend’s Hair Restorer, Bilious Land Liver Pills and Teething Powders. In 1906, the U.F.S. moved to 114 Lichfield Street where it remained for 12 years. Then in 1918 it moved to 204 High Street, close to the re-cently-opened premises at 218 High Street. In 1918 the U.F.S. telephone number was 41. With the introduction of' Social Security in 1939, lodge members were able to get free prescriptions from any pharmacy. One would have expected the U.F.S. to fold, but the Dispensary actually expanded. The city pharmacy continued to flourish and suburban shops were opened — in Sydenham (opposite Sydenham School) in 1941 and in Riccarton Road (opposite the old Riccarton Post Office) in 1951. Mr William Turner, the general manager of the U.F.S., says that lodge members remained loyal to the Dispensary after Social Security was introduced. Also, by that time a large clientele of non

lodge people had been established. U.F.S. went on to survive the 1960 s when many well established Christchurch pharmacies firms in the central city went out of business. “U.F.S. was able to build up its business during this period with diverse merchandising, good service and cash discounts to lodge members and their families. “The cost of prescriptions that were not free on Social Security were also rebated to lodge members.” Today, the U.F.S. offers members a 20 per cent discount on all items purchased with cash or a cheque providing those

items are not already discounted and a rebate of two dollars is allowed on most prescription items.

U.F.S. still has the two suburban outlets in Christchurch in addition to the new High Street pharmacy, The three shops have a wide range of products complementing traditional pharmacuetical items. These include a comprehensive range of cosmetics, sports medicines, patent medicines and vitamins, hair care accessories, mens’ toiletries, sunglasses, photographies and many gift items. U.F.S. will also continue its reputation of providing chemist’s specials throughout the year.