Hospital Treatment Of Returned Soldiers

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 7

Hospital Treatment Of Returned Soldiers

SCHEME FOR GUARANTEEING or ACCOUNTS. An inquiry as to whether the board was prepared to enter into an agreement with it for the treatment of its members, on similar lines to the agreement for the treatment of Friendly Society members, was received by the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday from the Palmerston North R.S.A. It was suggested by tho writers that the scheme should apply only to financial members of the Palmerston North R.S.A., that the annual fee should be paid in advance in one payment to tho board secretary through the local R.S.A. secretary, and that the benefits should be similar to those being enjoyed by members of the Friendly Societies' Hospital Association. Mr. A. E. Mansford inquired whether these cases would be covered by legislation that was coming down. ”1 think so/' replied the managingsecretary (Mr. A. J. Phillipps). He added that the agreement with the Friendly Societies was already overdue for revision. Mr. Mansford pointed out that Mr.

Phillipps had reported on a previous occasion that the Hospital Board collected more from Friendly Society members under the arrangement with them than it would if there were no arrangement. If the scope of these agreements could be enlarged, it would ensure the board getting more money from patients. The managing-secretary said he would like to see a minimum quota fixed as regards membership—say, 200 or 300 contributors. If the scheme were to be a success, the rank and file of the returned soldiers in tho district would have to be enlisted. On the motion of the Mayor, it was decided to advise the R.S.A. that the board was prepared to consider an agreement if the association would furnish a guarantee regarding the number of its members who would participate, but that arrangements could not be finalised until a new agreement with the Friendly Societies had been negotiated.