MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4188, 24 May 1939, Page 8

MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

FINANCES AT LOW EBB. The annual general meeting of members of the Kawhia Medical Association was held in Kawhia County Chambers on Thursday last. The chair was taken by Mr D. S. Morris (president). The minutes of the previous meeting and outward correspondence were approved and confirmed. The secretary (Mr J. N- Culley) stated that the finances of the Association were at a very low ebb, and representations to the Waikato Hospital Board had resulted in a special grant of £3O being authorised by that body to tide the Association over a difficult situation. Before such representations were made, the secretary stated, practically all members had been individually circularised, but the response had been discouraging. Quite a number of nominal supporters were, and still are, unfinancial. The native question had had to be faced, as the natives failed to realise the benefits which the fact of a hospital in the district conferred upon a community, until they were ill, and even then they appeared to regard free hospital treatment as due to them by Europeans. Departmental attention had been drawn to the position, and an elucidation of it sought, but to no purpose. The president remarked upon the absence of general interest in the affairs of the Association, and expressed disappointment owing to the poor attendance of the public at the meeting. The position was not good, and the necessity of soliciting a grant of £3O was most unfortunate, as the necessity for such appeal would have been avoided had support from the community for which it was reasonable to look been forthcoming. Still, said Mr Morris, Kawhia had not established a precedent, as Raglan had also applied for a grant, and had received a sum of approximately £lOO. He believed that many were resorting to inaction pending developments under the Social Security plan, but so far as he was aware no definite information regarding when and under what method the scheme would operate in that district was available.

At this stage a remark was passed chat by reason of the paucity of population the Kawhia district would be entitled to only partial benefits under the scheme.

Mi' Morris went on to state that, in his opinion, £lOO per annum was only a fair contribution from Kawhia to maintain the hospital and staff, but as affairs were tending there was a possibility of the district losing both, and when once lost they would be difficult, if not impossible, to reestablish. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr Morris, though still retaining interest in the Association, wished to retire from the presidency, and on his motion, seconded by Mrs Davies, Mr A. W. Babbage was elected to the position. Mr Culley sought release from secretarial responsibility by reason of the too-resultless call upon his time and private resources. If residents in the district had fulfilled their promises he could have derived sufficient encouragement to carry on, but he was disappointed. Mr Morris referred to the arduous conditions under which the secretary had done his best, and had done excellent work, and stated that £lO voted to Mr Culley to help defray benzine costs, etc., had not been accepted. Mr Culley said the most unsatisfactory feature associated with the secretarial post was having to accost members for subscriptions. This meant telephone messages, interviews, time wasted over promises unkept, and a general feeling of disappointment incurred.

Mr M. Goldsbro’ failed to detect honour in the position of secretary when support from those whom he was appointed to serve was not forthcoming. Co-operation was most essential.

After discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr Goldsbro’, seconded by Mr Scott, to hold the Association together for twelve months, or pending information re the effect the Social Security scheme will have upon the purpose which the Association is endeavouring to fulfil.

On the understanding that capable assistance would be made available, Mr J. Mackay was appointed secretary, on the motion of Mrs Davies, seconded by Mr Atkins. The following were elected a committee to further the general interests of the Association and to bring its claims for support before the residents of their immediate districts: Kawhia: Mrs Davies and Mr D. S. Morris.

Kawhia South: Messrs J. E. Scott. J. E. Fletcher, and R. Dent. Oparau: Mr Q. W. Ross. Awaroa: Mrs Watts. Any two members of the committee, in conjunction with the secretary, were empowered to operate the bank account.

An account for £1 Is lOd was passed for payment.

A vote of thanks to the chairman and the bounty clerk for the use of the county chambers concluded the meeting.