HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

Feilding Star, Volume 4, Issue 957, 23 November 1926, Page 5

HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

FOR FRIENDLY SOCIETIES FEILDING MEMBERS URGED TO GIVE SUPPORT. TO COME BEFORE LODGES A largely attended mass meeting of Feikling and district Friendly Societies’ members was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall last night, when addresses were given by the executive representatives of the United Friendly Societies’ Hospital Association, [explaining its aims and objects. The j Association came into operation on January 1 last and works over the J whole area, comprising the Palmerston North Hospital Board’s district. Similar meeting have recently been held at Levin and Fox ton, with the result that the Association has been strengtliened by the loyal co-operation of the Friendly Societies in. these centres. A larger percentage of the respective Societies’ - membership is sought.

The Mayor, Mr AY. E. Onrthow, presided, and associated with him were the officers of the Association, Bro. Jackson (president, )Bro. Hobday (vice-president), Hm. Northey ■(secretary) and Bro. Shannon (treasurer), together with representatives of the local Friendly Societies Council.

Mr Carthew welcomed the visitors and expressed his pleasure at being called to preside at the gathering. He was perfectly sineer in. making this statement, for he fully recognised the very large part the Friendly Societies play in the welfare of any community. The bonds of brotherhood, the unity of purpose and the vigor and virility of these Societies played a very big part in that respect indeed.

| Bro. Jackson pointed out the usual lodge benefits to be obtained and dej scribed the additional benefit to he derived from the Hospital Association movement. Through the Welling- . ton Friendly Societies’ Parliamentary j Committee endeavours were being made to bring about a universal scale of charges. If resistance was met j with from the Health Department or j the Government, then loyal co-opera-tion .of every member would have to be given to bring the proposals into effect. Details of the rules governing the Association and its members’ were read, the contributions defined and an explanation given to several clauses. Tt was pointed nut that in some hospitals charges arc made separately for operations and N-rav, but at Palmerston this was not so. There were no extras, with the exception of a mimic nee charges. In reference to private hospitals, if it is thought to bd in the interests of a member to go to a private institution in preference to the public hospital the Association pays an allowance at the. rate of 6s per day. If, however, a member enters a private hospital on Iris own initiative, then his demand for assistance is treated on its merits The Association places a liberal interpretation on this rule, and no case has vet been refused.

Tiro. Hobday explained that Lodge members had insurances against doctors’ charges, chemists’ charges, sickness, benefit to dependants at death, and insurance against funeral expenses. This further benefit, insurance against hospital expenses, was the first to he asked for during the past 25 years. Bro. Northev urged that all help was wanted for the Association.

Bro. Sharman emphasised the benefits to be obtained. Tn reply to a. question it was pointed out by the President that members could bo admitted from Bulls,, In regard to dual benefits, that is, separate contributions made by husband and wife to male and female Lodges respectively, there were two liabilities and both could, receive up to the limit in. each case, L3O. The respective . secretaries of the M.U.0.F., A.O.F. and Druids’ Lodges

undertook to bring before their members the need for co-operation. It was resolved that, to assist the work of the Friendly Societies visiting committee, red discs be supplied bv the Hospital Board and placed at the head of the bed of each patient who is a- member of the Association, the matter to lie brought before the Board at its next meeting and also the Feilding borough representative on the Board. The motion was put forward by Bro. P. G. Guy, seconded bv Sis. Wallis.

On the motion of Bros. Barltrop and Haybittle, a. vote of thanks was accorded the speakers. In concluding the meeting, the chairman stressed the fact that the business in hand was one that the Friendly Societies should immediately take in hand. 7