HOSPITAL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 124, 24 April 1935, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD

NOMINEES FROM UNEMPLOYED. At a .meeting of unemployed held in the supper room of the Opera House, last .evening, it was decided to nominate definitely one candidate for the Palmerston North Hospital Board and also a second if the required finance could he secured. It was arranged that Mr T. B. Aitken should be nominated this morning, and, .if the necessary finance was forthcoming, to nominate Mr J. de Cleene nlso. Mr de Cleene, as convener, explained the purpose of the meeting at the outset, saying that the unemployed in the community, had considered that they should have representation on the hoard. Mr J. Hyland was appointed to the chair. Mr Hyland said that it was beyond his understanding that a larger number had not attended. Probably, he said, it was because the matter had not been brought before the unemployed earlier. The weather, too, had not been propitious. There were splendid members on the Hospital Board but, as had been stated, the ■unemployed felt that they should have direct representation. Comment was made that the appointment of candidates had not been considered by tire Unemployed Workers’ Movement, it being said that, the matter had evidentlv been overlooked. The gathering eventually decided to endorse the action of Mr de Cleene in calling tire meeting as the result of a decision made by a gathering of unemployed at the Esplanade. Mr F. Lee suggested as a basis of the platform for candidates: —(a) Full restoration of the wage cuts, (b) immediate increase of 10s weekly to all unemployed, (c) no victimisation of unemployed applying for charitable aid, (cl) free medical and dental treatment for all unemployed, and (e) the establishing of a central charitable aid bureau.

These suggestions were adopted. Another speaker urged the necessity of a modern private waiting room at the Hospital with literature provided. Statistics, too, he felt, should be taken in a private office and not in the ward.

This suggestion was also adopted for the candidates’ programme. Messrs J. de Cleene and T. B. Aitken were selected as candidates and a subsequent ballot gave preference to the latter for nomination.

A suggestion was advanced that representations be made for unemployed to be charged only half the amount of friendly society fees. The suggestion was endorsed by the meeting.

Discussing the Free Ambulance, Mr E. W. Ward moved that the unemployed should support that organisation. An endorsement was also given this resolution. A letter was received from the City Council replying to a request on behalf of the unemployed for permission to speak in Coleman Place until the close of flic forthcoming municipal elections. ‘‘ln reply,” stated Mr J. R. Hardie (town clerk), “I have to say that the council has decided that on nights, other than Saturdays, speakers be permitted to occupy the space near the city weighbridge usually taken up by the Salvation Army. Such permission is to cover the period of the election campaign.”