FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 96, 27 April 1929, Page 17

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

AND THE HOSPITAL

QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION

A largely attended- meeting of friendly society representatives ■" was held recently under' tho . chairmanship of .Mr. W. M'liaughlin- to consider' the relationship of frieudly societies and the 'hospital. ■ A nuniber .■' of replies icceived ffonr candidates for the Hospital Board in connection with the questionnaire recently, circulated proved to be favourable, and were fully discussed. It, was pointed out by the chairman that the Executivo of 1 the Hospital Boards of New Zealand had affirmed, at the .conference with friendly society delegates held in January . of. last year, the limiting of the period of treatment for which friendly society funds should be responsible to- thirty weeks in. respect of' any sickness, and also thatthe age for children bo raised to at least 14 years. Many hospital boards had raised the ago to 15 and 1G years and also.provided for a limitation period, yet, the local board had ignored the recommendations'of its own executive^. .The same executive :alao recognised, the seripus inroads made -onfriendly ■ societies' funds by infectious diseases eases. ,-. -. ''■-■.•'.. .■ . Those taking part, in the; discussion which followed .considered that, these cases so far. as tho societies and the general 'public were concerned should be a charge on the ■.Consolidated Fund as compulsory segregation was - for national and not particularly for individual benefit. ; . '■-.. ' Begarding the question of an increase in hospital rates,-it was stated that, while, many members of .^friendly societies were paying rates, , having endeavoured with Government . .assistance to obtain'small "homes, the ratepayers generally speaking were the rent payers whether of houses or shops. i At the end of the general discussion a, selection of candidates Jronit! the various tickets was made, in conformity with the answers to the questionnaire.