ASSISTANCE SOUGHT

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1935, Page 3

ASSISTANCE SOUGHT

for treatment of UNEMPLOYED.

A deputation from the Greymouth Unemployed Workers’ Union', comprising Messrs A. Galbraith ' (president), W. Wallwork (secretary), and Miss McNulty (treasurer), waited upon the Grey Hospital Board at its meeting last evening, requesting (1) consideration for medical and maternity cases for unemployed workers; and (2) adoption of a proposed system by which such demands can be reimbursed out 1 of the unemployment funds.

Mi‘ Galbraith said it was suggested that the Unemployment Board be approached, through the Minister with a view to assistance being given by payments to hospital boards o J( behalf of unemployed who had been treated and were unable to make payment. The money, he said, could he better used in this direction than assisting capitalistic firms in putting up buildings. It wa s not possible for unemployed on the small pittance they received to pay for •maternity and surgical and medical attention. There wa« distress in the district. It was not possible for those affected, through no fault of their own, to obtain even dental treatment, which resulted ultimately in their having to enter the. hospital for treatment. If was utterly impossible for relief workers to pay for medical attention, and on account of having live on a small weekly allowance. thov were more likely to get sick, as they were not mentally normal, becoming in lime worried

which resulted in lack of sleep, cam ing aggravation. and they failed I function as persons under ordinal•ireumst.anees.

Mr Wallwork said thei r object was to place before the board the present position of the relief workers in '•reymouth. A denotation from the iinemp’oyprl had waited upon the Hon. S. G. Smith. Minister of Employment, on his recent visit, and placed before him the plight! of relief workers, and he had stated that it was the dutv of the Hospital Board to meet such cases as had been referred to him. He felt sure no one could dispute t!;o fact, of the hardships of the unemu'oyed through the low allocations. In 'he past, cases had been cared for bv local doctors and chemists in the town outside the institution. Their good work was appreciated. biU then when the question of payment came up. ‘hat was where the relief worker was found wanting. It was thought adequate finance should b« urnvidrd !''• in the Unemployment Board’s funds to niee-t the hospital boards’ ro"ts in such cases. Tie thought the suggestion should be considere<l. The allocations were low indeed. He felt it was in the interests of relief workers and of the Hospital Board for them to come and 4ry Io get some concessions with regard to assistance in such cases as might come forward. , Miss McNulty said ‘hat. as representative of the wives of unemployed, she had bopn asked to state their case with regard to free maiternitv benefits. With the relief rafios there was no margin to allow any money to be put aside for s uch eases, and she wanted it to be that women would bp given the assurance that everything would be done when t“he time comes. The chairman (Mr R. MeTaggart) asked if (he wives of any re'ie.f workers had been turned away from Rewa. Miss McNulty said she did not know if such had ever been the case. What was desired was an assurance that everything would be alright. Mr Smeaton said I ha? there seemed to be an opinion that relief workers’ wives could not be admitted to the maternity hospital. The chairman said that (that impression had existed. Mr Smeaton said he had occasion to ring up about a woman last week, who had been treated as a paid guest. Miss McXultv said that there was, however no medical service. The chairman said the hospital was i public institution, ami nobody was turned away, either at Rewa or at the Public. Hospital. Mr 11. G. Carter said he understood that: what the unemployed wanted was an understandiner that they did not come to the institution under suffrance. The board understood the position, and knew it was impossible 10 receive any more money; but he thought the Unemployed Board shou’d reimburse the Hospital Board for medical and hospital treatment, and they should make representations to the Minister that, this be done. In the meantime, any patient could come either to the Public Hospital or to Rewa. without being under suffranee. The thing wa s clear-cut, and he did not think there should be any argument about it.

Mr J. Mulcare said that ‘this did not, however, get away from the trouble. This was that in maternity cases and also with regard to other attention, doctors’ services were still required. Miss McNulty: The doctor is the (rouble! What is wanted is a guarantee that he will be paid. The chairman said he did not think the board should have to look af'er the doctor. He was looking after himself as he was an outside practitioner. and was not within the jurisdiction of the board.

Mr Mulcare said that, perhaps, they could arrange it in some way. Tf they had a maternity ward at Hie hospital they would have no trouble. Mr Galbraith quoted an instance from Auckland, where a doctor would not*, attend a case without payment, and the patient had died. They should have the Unemployment Board’s guarantee that the unemployed would be treated.

The chairman: We may be able to manage with our own doctors. Mr Mulcare said tihat he would move that a committee consisting of the town members of the board go into the matter. Mr Carter said there was no reason why payments should not come out of the unemployment funds for medical and maternity attention, which was even more important than the provision of sustenance work. Mr A. H. McKane said that the mosjt. important phase was with regard to maternity cases. He would suggest that figures would have to be | gone into, as from Rewa. regarding i those who were unable t° n ay. No doubtj the secretary Avou’d he able obtain these figures, indicating to the TTnemnlovmcm Board how manv there had been and v-lmt would he th'' jike’v cost. Tf D’ov £jot it

hero ho same would ho ’bought, apply over tlie whole of New Zealand. Mr Carter said he look it that the representations made here would be made similarly all over New Zealand

Mr Smeaton said there was one simple remedy, and that was—give the

icoplc enough to pay for their hospial maintenance. Mr Galbraith *aid that the proposils made were of a national charmer. Mr Turley said the question was he attention that was necessary by lectors a: Rewa. He said that the inemploynient funds had been robbed •nd plundered in the past by all ami mndry for building schemes and the ’arming community—wealthy people vho were well able to go on with heir own schemes. To ask for rembursement from such funds would ■)e‘to make the lot of the unemp'oyed i worse one. It appeared I<hat the workers of this country were sitting lown and allowing themselves to be cobbed. The tax should bo increased on people who had money, and not the wage earners. Some provision, he bought, could be made for attention by medical men in maternity cases, •'omo unemployed ’were members of friendly societies, and were not required to pay. They could give a trial for three months to making provision for this service to the wives of unemployed, and see where the thing went. If the board desired, it could send It’S own doctor.

Mr Mulcare said thev had to prepare a case, and he would move that the board set up the committee suggested.

Mr A. Mosley seconded. Mr Carter had covered the ground very ably. The board was not able to do anything. he said, until it' made representations to Wellington. Mr Turley moved an amendment: — That for three months the board make provision fo r the unemployed where there is a case of necessity and where the person is not a member of a medical society.

Mr Kent said that, if necessary, the board could supply the doctors. The chairman said the whole thing hinged on the matter of the treatment by the doctors at Rdwa. There was no seconder to Mr Turley’s amendment, which lapsed.

The motion was carried. Mr Galbraith returned thanks, and the deputation withdrew.