INJURED FOOTBALLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21201, 6 June 1932, Page 15

INJURED FOOTBALLERS.

REDUCED PAYMENTS. TREATMENT IN HOSPITAL. " It is one of those unfortunate things we have to put beforo you," remarked Mr. J. Prendeville at a special meeting of delegates to tho Wellington Rugby Union, when a new scale of payments to injured players was advanced for confirmation. Mention was made of the new arrangement completed for tho treatment of injured players at tho Lewisham ITos pital instead of at tho Wellington Hospital, where full charges had been do manded.

The proposed alteration to the accident fund regulations was to the effect that tho allowances to injured player s be as follows:—£1 per week (instead of £1 10s) to senior, junior, third, or intermediate players; 15s per week (instead of £1) to fourth grade players; and 7s 6d per week (instead of 10s) for fifth, sixth or seventh grade players. An addition to the regulations was proposed to provide for no allowance to players whose incapacity to follow their occupation lasted for a less period than one week. An outline of what has been done in the past regarding payments to injured players was given by Mr. Prendeville in placing the proposal for reduced allowances before the meeting. Up to 1922 tho scale of jiayments under the accident fund rules was tho same as now being suggested. Since then they had been increased, and the union had como to an arrangement with the Hospital Board for the maintenance of injured players in hospital at a reduced fee. Latterly, however, the Hospital Board had increased its charges, and the union's burden had been increased accordingly. Efforts had been made to induce the Hospital Board to reduce its charges, but they had been of no avail. As tho result of a suggestion made by a member of tho management negotiations had been opened up with the Lewisham Hospital and with tho doctors. Tho outcomo was that tho union had been able to arrange with the doctors for an X-ray plant to be obtained, and with the Lewisham Hospital for treatment at that institution at a reduced charge. It was explained by Mr. Prendeville that the committee regretted having to propose a reduction in the payments to injured players. Tho courso, however, was deemed a necessary one. "I personally hope," ho added, "that tho time will soon como when wo can revert to tho allowance that was previously made. 1 vontnro to say that the players under the Wellington Union aro as well if not better catered for than under any metropolitan union." The proposal was discussed at somo length, and was finally endorsed, a largo majority of tho delegates present- voting in favour of it.