FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12074, 27 February 1925, Page 11

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

AND HtSPITAL FEES SHIRKING OF RESPONSIBILITY SUGGESTED. NO CHANGE BY BOARD. The finance committee of the Hospital Board yesterday recommended that the president of tne Wellington Friendly Societies’ Council, and the secretary of the Wellington Druidic Delegates, be informed that the board is not prepared to make any change at present in the terms of tne agreement it is prepared to enter with friendly societies and similar organisations, viz., to accept half fees for maintenance of members, their dependents, and children admitted for indoor treatment in the Wellington Hospital and its institutions. No reduction is made in the fees for the special departments and the out-patients department. Mr C. H. Chapman asked that the matter should be. reconsidered, as he thought the board could meet the societies in regard to those who were in the hospital for over three months. Mr G. Campbell seconded a motion to that end.

Mr Chapman pointed out that the Minister had recently said that it would only cost £200,000 to give free treatment to all patients in their hospitals. Mr E. Vine said the friendly societies had - been met in the past, but they were like Oliver Twist, asking for more.

Mr Hornblow supported Mr Vine, and said that Wellington was one of the heaviest rated communities for hospital purposes in the world. Mr Cole submitted that wealthy societies should not he looking for more when they had been getting 50 per pent, off for some years. The Rev. J. K. Elliott said there was a disposition on the part of the friendly societies to throw tne whole of 'the responsibilities on to the board, just as the board had applications from people who desired to throw their parents into the Ohiro Homes—anywhere so long os they got rid of their responsibility. He supported the committee’s recommendation.

Mr A. J. McCurdy urged that the board was justified in declining to give the extra “dole” which the friendly societies had asked df the board, and submitted that tho board was dealing with the payment of fees in the right way. If the board gave it to one section of the community which was incorporated it should be given to all. Those who were able to pay were called upon to pay, and those who could not pay and showed that they could not pay, were given relief in whole or in part. The chairman said that it would be just as logical to give 50 per cent, off to all citizens. He supported the committee’s recommendation. Tho amendment was defeated, and the committee’s recommendation adopted.