RUNANGA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 10 February 1943, Page 6

RUNANGA NOTES

(.our Own Correspondent). The Runanga Medical Society held its annual meeting on Sunday. Mr F J. Oakley presided. The balancesheet showed the following receipts in the Sick and Funeral Fund: State mines £299, Co-op. mines £6l, outside members £2l; total £382. Expenditure totalled £376 and was made up of sick pay £346 and funeral benefits £3O. The State miners contributed £l9O the Co-op. miners £4O, and outside’members £l4 to the management fund. Expenditure included small items relating to surgery maintenance, ambulance fees, and running expenses. The former heavy expenditure on drugs was now met by the Government. The cash balance was £931, an increase of £135. The honoraria of the officers were increased by 12i per cent. All the present office-holders were elected unopposd as follows: President, lyli F. J. Oakley; secretary, Mr J. GHlaly; committee, Messrs F. Lee, J. Guy, D. Barnes, R. Nelson, W. Richmond and J. Y. Rutherford. Mr A. Warnes was re-appointed auditor. The chairman said that the society s work was to give financial benefits and also to exercise control over the doctor and ensure a good service, now that the Government was meeting the cost of drugs and the doctor s salary. Contributions were now only 7id a week. It was decided on the motion of Mr J. Devine that the doctor be given discretionary power' to provide bandages, lint, cotton wool etc., when he considered the issue warranted. Mr English said that an endeavour should be made to have bandages placed on the Social Security list for free issue to the Society. Mr G. E. English presided over the annual meeting of the Accident Relief Fund. The balance-sheet showed receipts to be £542 and payments £491 (injured members £421, funeral benefits £7O). Cash on hand totalled £ll5, an increase of £ll. The salary of officers was increased by 121 per cent., and the payment to committeemen was increased by Is to 2s a meeting. The officers were all reelected unopposed, as follows: Pre- r sident, Mr G. E. English; secretary, Mr J T. McPhee; committee, Messrs F. Oakley, F. Lee,. A. Williams, W. Simpson, J. Y. Rutherford, D. Barnes and R. Nelson. Mr H. J. Wicks was re-appointed auditor. The chairman said that since the last meeting anomalies in the administration of the Social Security legislation had been discussed with other friendly societies. It was found that members on Social Security were losing the benefit during the Christmas period because they received holiday pay from their employment. It was considered that this holiday pay was something that had been earned during the year, and should not affect Social Security payments. There was also the position of persons who belonged to several friendly societies and were debarred from receiving Social Security because of benefits received ' from their various societies. It was decided to protest to the Social Security Department about its attitude regarding holiday pay and the stringent means test applied for sickness benefit.