WAITARA NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1931, Page 2

WAITARA NEWS

HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION FORMED.

A public meeting called by the convenor, Mr. T. B. Ewens, and held on Friday evening for the purpose of forming a workers’ hospital benefit insurance association was fairly well attended. '

Mr. Ewens stated that for some months he had interested himself and had waited upon the Hospital Board with a view of inaugurating a hospital association for freezing and other workers, somewhat on the lines o'f-the hospital scheme now enjoyed, by the

Friendly Societies. The Hospital Board had agreed to the scheme and a draft agreement had been drawn lip, which he read to the assemblage. The context of the scheme wa? that for an annual contribution members' of the association would be entitled to hospital treatment in the New Plymouth public hospital for-a period of 13 weeks in hny one year for himself, wife and children up to tlte age of 16 years, with certain reservations. Mr. Ewens thought it was an excellent scheme for workers and for the Hospital Board, because it frequently happened that the average worker was unable to meet hospital bills and the board, suffered, but under the scheme workers could afford the annual premium for the benefits and were released of anxiety. Of course the scheme was ■not meant for people in affluent circumstances. . . It was decided to form an association to be called the Waitara Workers Hospital Association. The following officers were appointed.—President, Mr. T. B. Ewens; secretary, Mr. Geo. Bird; executive, Mesdames E. Bingham, N. Anderson and Messrs. R. A. Robinson and G. Clayton, with' the president and secretary exofficio.

It was mentioned that the association’s year would commence on March

A vote of thanks to the president for the trouble he had taken on behalf of the workers was carried by acclamation.