HOSPITAL BOARD AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6993, 20 August 1929, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Still at Variance ■'%

ANOTHER EFFORT TO BE MADE FOR SETTLEMENT The Palmerston North Hospital Board and Friendly Societies’ Hospital Association are still at cross-purposes on the question of fees to be paid by Friendly Society patients. However, the board at its meeting yesterday, decided to meet the Friendly Societies once again in an endeavour to reach an agreement.

The matter was introduced when the chairman of the board (Mr J. K. Hornblow) reported that the Friendly Societies had sent in a cheque for patients’ fees at tho old rate. In 1926, an arrangement had been made to take Friendly Society patients at a certain fee. The contract stood for a year and on its' 1 expiry, nothing was done to renew it, but the board continued to give the same reduction. Subsequently, the board decided to Taise all fees and the charge to Friendly Society patients went up also* The cheque received by the board waf below what it had decided should be the payments from the societies. The question was whether the amount was to bo accepted as a . compromise—or was the board going to inform the socioties that there was now no contract and that it must claim the full amount?

Mr J. Boyce moved that the board adhere to the fee of 8/-, which was two-thirds of the usual fee.

The chairman: “You have already done that but the Friendly Societies have not agreed to it.” Mr Boyce: "Then that is their funeral.”

Mr W. Howell moved that tho board receive the cheque and bill the Friendly Societies for the difference. He thought the societies had bees high-handed in ignoring the board, which had recoived no letter. Mr A. E. Mansford: “Yes we have. They wrote declining.” Mr Howell proposed that the board demand the difference and that the societies be given again an opportunity to sign the contract, otherwise they should be put on the same basis as the general public.

Mr B. L. C. Aitchison asked how the amount forwarded compared with the percentage of fees collected by the board in general.

Mr Hornblow thought the question hardly relevant as the board was at present only concerned with a contract. If it liked to be generous, the societies could be mot under-the conditions that were offered them. Mr Howell's suggestion was a compromise and gave the Friendly Societies another chance of coming in under the conditions offered.

Mr Mansford said he thought a special committee was to meet the -societies, but that had not come about. The board now suggested a compromise, but that had never been offered before- Why should not tho board .meet them on the same basis as was done ,by the majority of other boards? Over 50 per cent of boards were giving Friendly Societies better terms than Palmerston North, and it apparently paid them to do it. A member: "Does it?”

Mr Mansford: "I understand it does and it would pay the Palmerston North Board to do the same.' 1

Mr Boyce: “Are any boards giving a better concession than 33 1-3 pel cent!"

The secretary: “All tho main centres are and some of tho country boards have done so."

Mr Hornblow assured the meoting that he had not changed his opinion on the subject of fees that should bo paid by all hospital patients when ho suggested a compromise. The door of the hospital was wide open for everyone, and he could not sec why 'one section of the community should bo treated differently from another. Tho Friendly Societies had been asked to produce their hospital association balance sheet so that, the board could see how the association stood, but the request had been ignored. Hfl' had the greatest respect for the heads of the association from the individual point of view, but as far as tho board was concerned, he would never change liis attitude when tho door of the hospital was as wide open as it was. The meeting discussed what the legal position would bo if tho cheque was accepted in tho meantime. Mr Nash urged another meeting with the societies. It would be far bettei to settle tho dispute amicably. The chairman agreed.

Mr Nash suggested Messrs Monk, Mansford, Collis and Smith as a committee to meet the Friendly Societies. Mr Smith: “ What has this committee to dot” The chairman: :“First of all try and settle this account."

Mr Smith: :“\Yc have tried to do that for two years now." Mr Boyce: “The thing 4 is a farce. Wc have already decided what wc shall charge them." Finally, the matter was left to the executive committee and Mr Mansford.