A MINERS' UNION DOCTOR.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVI, Issue 7594, 31 July 1893, Page 2

A MINERS' UNION DOCTOR.

QUESTION OF CERTIFICATES.

ME BUNNY'S CASE.

PUT ON THE ACCIDENT FUND

SHEET AGAIN.

In the course of the proceedings at the Miners' Union meeting on Saturday night, the President (Mr Lucas) in* timated that the committee of the Branch had not been satisfiedfor some time past with the doctor's certificates received regarding accident cases, and about two months agn they had decided to appoint Dr Williams as doctor to the Union, and :his certificate would in future be the only one recognised.

In answer to Mr Potts, the Prosident said that in the event of any special cases no doubt the committee would recognise an Auckland doctor's certificate.

Mr T. Barrett, one of the committee, pointed out that previous to the committee coming to this decision there wore fourteen receiving accident pay. Now there is only one, and he thought that this fact spoke fot itself as tho udmirableness of the rule. '

A considerable amount of discussion then ensued regarding tho case of Mr J Bunny, who had his hand crushed in one of the mines some time ago, in consequence of which one or two fingers had to bo amputated, whilst his band was also seriously injured, Beingof course incapacitated from following his avocation, he received aid from the Accident Fund However, as Dr Williams certified to the effect that Bunny was now able to do light work, the committee stopped the accident pay, basing thß actions on tho fact that one of the rules of the Branch distinctly stated that the accident fund was not accessible to any one who could follow any kind of work. The action of the committee of course has oaused a good deal of" crib" talk in tho mines, and when discussing the question on Saturday night, was a little bit lively. Mr P. Delahunty was the main speaker, and he occupied a considerable portion of the time in condemning the action of the committee.. Some of the speakers thought that the committee had wrongly interpreted the rule,as it was really meant that "any kind of work," meant any kind of work connected.with the raining.industry, the Union being a Miners' Union, not a Trades Union. One man said the rules of the Union were "rotten," and .Mr Delahunty* when condemning the rale, was. informed of the fact that he was one of the committee who made the rule, Mr Burns thought that it was a disgrace to the Union to stop a man's pay when he could not work, and he moved to the effect that Mr Bunny receive the 10s per week until able to resume work, and also be paid all, arrears from the time the accideint pay was stopped , Mr W. Brown seconded.

The Chairman,;in, answer to all the above onslaughts, clearly showed tljat the rule was there, and in the face of such 'a rule, -the committee dared nit continue the aid to Mr Bunny, especially, upon receipt'of the doctor's certificate. Ho informed the meeting that the Com* mittee to a man had as much sympathy for the injured as anyone sitting in the Academy that evening, but their actions had been controlled by their interest in the welfare of the Union, and doing what they thought was right.

The resolution was then put anc carried. .