RUGBY INJURIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 197, 21 July 1937, Page 2

RUGBY INJURIES

HOSPITAL FEES QUESTION. Remarking that it appeared from a report of a discussion at the monthly meeting of the Palmerston .North Hospital Board, on Monday, that the board was suffering loss through the nonpayment of fees by injured Rugby players, the chairman of the management committee of the Manawatu Itugbj’ Union (Mr A. M. Onf|ley) moved, at a meeting of the union last night, that a statement be -requested from the board showing the amount of' fees so incurred this season not yet paid. The motion was carried.

Tlie Hospital Board had discussed the inauguration of a hospital agreement scheme, such as applies to Friendly Societies and to the Public Works’ Employees’ Hospital Association, under which the board would be guaranteed the fees by the Rugby authorities, a reduced rate being given in return. •Mr Ongley said the report read as if tlie board had suffered so much loss that they were desirous of bringing in a national scheme to guarantee the injured players’ N es. It did not seem to him that there had been any great number of players in hospital, or that the Hospital Board had not been paid. The union actually paid half the amount of the fees up to £3 3s. An examination of the records was made anrl it was announced that this season the fees which injured players would have to meet out of their own money amounted to £l3.

Mr Ongley thought the union should write to the board and ask for a statement of tlie amount of fees from injured Rugby players not recovered tin's season. It appeared as if there were crowds of young men going into hospital with no provision being made for them. The speaker thought that the Rugby Union was the only sports administrative body which made any provision for payments out of an insurance fund for injured players. ' Mr H. R. Crawford seconded the motion, saying tlie union at least paid a portion of the hospital fees. The motion was carried.