RUNANGA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1939, Page 10

RUNANGA NOTES

MEDICAL SOCIETY MEETING. [OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.] The half yearly meeting of the Point Elizabeth Medical Society was held in the Miners’ Hall yesterday morning, Mr. F. Oakley presiding over a good attendance. Mr. E. Souter, auditor, was in attendance. Discussing the balance-sheet, the Chairman said that; Messrs. R. McTaggart, J. Gillaly, E. Souter and himself had met the Hospital Board in regard to the oustanding account, and they were fairly treated. The outstanding account was £1,362/13/9, and the Society offered £BBO in full payment. Finally it was agreed that the account be met by the payment of £9OO. From December last until the present time, the Society had paid the hospital on the basis of 692 members at the rate of 30/- per annum each. Statements had been made at previous meetings about the number of members of the Society and the basis of payment to the hospital, but these had proved incorrect. Mr. Souter said that the balance-

sheet showed a wonderful improvement in the affairs of .the Society. The cash position had improved by £5OO in the last six months. As the advances made from the fund to assist other funds, and the coal miners’ relief payments had been received from the Government, so the liabilities of the Society had been reduced, over £BOO having been paid during the period. He thought that the committee was deserving of a vote of thanks. On the basis of the improvement already made, the-Society would soon be in a strong financial position. The Chairman said that the account owing for drugs, etc;, to 11. V. Stevens, amounting to £359/18/3, had not yet been paid, because of a disagreement with the firm regarding the total amount.

Mr. Morris asked if the committee I considered the audit fee charges to be reasonable. The Chairman said that the account of £56/5/- seemed to be a lot, but he thought the Society had not been paying enough in the past for auditing. Mr. Souter said the Society’s affairs were in a hopeless tangle, and it had taken an enormous amount of work to straighten things out. If more had been paid for the auditing in the past, there would not have been this trouble, which had been accumulating over the years. On the motion of Mr. J. Rowse the balance-sheet, showing the accumulat-

cd funds of the Society at £540/10/-!. was received as satisfactory. Mr. Morris moved a hearty vole of thanks to the officers of the Society for the way they had straightened up the Society’s affairs. The motion was carried by acclamation. The Chairman, in thanking members for the resolution, said that the committee had- been criticised for what they were doing, but they had cleaned up the affairs of the Society without fear or favour to anyone. It was decided that the present committee be re-elected, and that ihe term be until December :;i next. Mr.

IT. E. Kennedy, who has resigned [from the committee owing to his leaving the town, was replaced by the appointment of Mr. S. Morris. RIGHTS OK DOCTOR. An interesting discussion took pla.ee oil the rights of the Society's doctor to private practice, in view of his qualifications as a. specialist in ear, nose and throat diseases.

Mr. English raised the question, saying he thought the doctor should have the right to outside practice. The Chairman said the matter had come before the committee, and it had been decided that the doctor be allowed two hours a week to attend to private patients in his capacity as specialist. The committee’s decision, however, was to apply only until the general meeting had discussed the matter. Mr. Morris said that members were paying 30/- per year for hospital treatment and paying for a doctor. In addition, they were contributing to the Social Security fund by the wages tax. and he thought members were entitled to full specialist services without further payment. Mr. Williams said that no previous doctor had performed operations whilst working for the Society. The new doctor was prepared to operate, and he should be encouraged. The doctor had agreed to make a small charge only for specialist operations to members of the Society. Mr. Fisher said that members should not be penalised by having to pay extra fees. He did not want to do the doctor an injustice, but members were paying enough already. Mr. G. Millar said that if the doctor was not allowed to make a special charge for specialist work, then he would not do the work, and patients would have to go away for treatment as in the past, which was expensive. Mr. J. Devine, junr., said the. Society should approach the Health and Social Security Departments. Members were paying to the Social Security

fund, and the Department should either pay the doctor his full salary direct or pay the money to the Society.

Two members quoted cases of their own, where it had been necessary to go to Christchurch for specialist treatment, the cost in one case being £2OO.

Mr. Morris said lie sympathised with those members, but he thought that had thej' made enquiries they could have had the treatment arranged through the Society. From what he had heard, the doctor, and his wife also, were doing excellent work, but he did not agree that extra should be paid for specialist treatment. Mr. D. Barnes said he thought the committee had acted rightly. Mr. Williams said that the agreement with the doctor did not provide that he do operations, but he should be allowed the privilege of doing so. Mr. R. McTaggart fa member of the Hospital Board and the Medical Executive) said that he had been going into the matter with the hospital and the local doctor. No conclusions had yet been come to. but he thought the matter should be referred back to the committee, and a special meeting held later. Some of the statements made were not altogether correct. The matter required careful consideration, and the meeting should not be asked to decide that day.

Tile Chairman said that when agreeing to allow the doctor two hours a week for outside practice in specialist work, it had been agreed that operations on members of the Society would be performed in the Greymouth Hospital and not. private hospitals, if 1-triiiissiou was given, and so save members hospital charges. It was suggested that an arrangement he made .with the doctor for an extra salary to he paid to cover all specialist work on members. On the motion of Mr. English ami Air. Morris, it was decided that tlie| committee's action in* approved, ami they be given power to amend the ar-1 rangomenl as they saw fit. the wind - question to be discussed later. The question of payment of sick- '

ness benefits under the Social Securlity Act was left to the committee for enquiry. ACCIDENT FUND MEETING. Mr. G. English presided at the halfyearly meeting of the Accident Fund which followed. Mr. H. .1. Wicks, auditor, attended. The balance-sheet, showing an excess of liabilities over assets of £76 8/5, was received as satisfactory. Mr. T. Williams said that the committee was to be congratulated for their work in straightening out the affairs of the Fund, and on his motion a resolution according thanks to the executive was recorded. The Chairman said that the whole of the affairs of the fund had now been overhauled, and things should be straight sailing in future. Mr. T. E. Kennedy, who has been secretary for some months has left the district, and on the motion of the Chairman, a vote of thanks was accorded him for his work for the Accident Fund. A vote of appreciation was also passed io the auditor, Mr. H. J. Wicks.

It was decided that the present committee be re-elected for the period ending December 31 next. Messrs. S. Morris and R. Nelson were appointed to vacancies on the committee, and the appointment of Mr. J. McPhee as secretary was ratified.

The secretary read a letter from the National Provident Fund explaining the formalities necessary to claim maternity bonus. The secretary said there were several who were definitely malingering on the fund. They would not go to the doctor every week for examination. In his opinion they should be compelled to attend once a week, otherwise payments to be suspended. The rules of the Society provided that men drawing from the fund were not to leave the district without permission. etc. He personally intended to see these rules carried out, and if he found anyone on the accident drunk, for instance, he would have no hesitation in reporting them. Mr. Oakley said that most of the men went to the doctor regularly, but there were a number who did not go for several weeks. The rules said they must go weekly, but. there was no power for the committee to deal with those who did not.

It was decided that if any member drawing relief money does not attend the doctor one weekly, the committee have power to suspend payments. It was decided that the committee take up the question of revising the rules of the Society.