HOUSEWIVES UNION

Evening Star, Issue 21711, 4 May 1934, Page 4

HOUSEWIVES UNION

ADDRESS BY MR F. JONES, M.P* The Dunedin Housewives’ Union held its monthly meeting last Tuesday, Mi'S A. Herbert, president, presiding over a large attendance of members. Considerable correspondence was dealt with, including a letter from the Australian Housewives’ Union.—Mrs A. M‘Dermott, local delegate td the National Council of Women, presented a report upon remits discussed at the conference recently held in Christchurch. Reports were presented by members who had waited upon Mr W. Bromley, member of the Unemployment Board, re the proposed camp scheme. This matter was widely discussed by those present, members expressing the opinion that the separating of the breadwinners from their family ties wSs not in the best interest of citizenship, and though men, women, and children had suffered privations owing to the depression, husband, wife, and children had Been together, good companions, through it all. At the special invitation of the housewives, Mr F. Jones, M.P;, attended the meeting with Mrs Jones, and was in* vited to speak on a national health insurance scheme; He pointed out tire desirability of having such an Act placed on the Statute Book in the interest of the workers in New Zealand. He first -of all dealt with voluntary insurance as carried out by friendly societies and trade unions, and explained how they had failed to provide for numbers of people. The speaker pointed out that this , had been due to many reasons, mostly through, improvidence and lack of means. Workers with small earnings had to apply the same to their immediate Wants; these people were less able t 6 sate, and more Often ill. Mr Jones also explained that there were too many societies operating to-ddjr; the number being .1,067, with a membership of 102,052. There was a decrease in members over the previous year of 3,608. He stated that the position in Great Britain prior to 1911 Was the same as in New Zealand; In that year an Act Was passed called the National Health Insurance Act, Which had linked up the •Voluntary Organisations, and to-day, with the deposit societies, had a membership of 16,000,000, who were provided with sick pay, medical attendance, and treatment; Tills hot Only covered the insured worker, blit also the. family up to the age Of fourteen years. He pointed out a number of the weaknesses of the system; the restrictive benefits as compared with many of those provided by other European countries. Some years ago the British Medical Association had suggested what, benefits it thought should be provided in Great Britain; These were:—(a) A family doctor; (b) a national maternity services (c) a consultant and specialist) advice and treatment ; (d) a Uursing service of Visiting nurses; (e) such extra services, pathological laboratory, massage add X-rays electrical; (f) service for drugs and medicines and appliances; (g) dental service; Mr Jones pointed out the advantages of such a service if it had been adopted, especially if it included institutional treatment. He pointed out the advantages of stich a scheme if adopted in New Zealand, coordinating all the existing Institutions into one State scheme with the object of maintaining and improving the health of oUr people. At the conclusion of his remarks Mr Jones was asked iiiany questions, which were answered satisfactorily. Mrs Huggitt moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mi- Jones, and extended a welcome to Mrs Jones, Which was carried by declamations. Aftenloon tea Was then served, and ft pleasant Social half-hour was spent.