ORTHOPAEDIC WORK AND PAYMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 221, 12 June 1919, Page 3

ORTHOPAEDIC WORK AND PAYMENT

A KNOTTY PROBLEM. At a meeting of the Wellington Eed Cross Centre held at Uio Mercer Street Depot yesterday afternoon a discussion took place upon the new rule providing that the men in orthopaedic hospitals shall not receive payment for their individual work. At,the meeting of (he New Zealand executive it had been decided to refer the question as to whether the society would supply material to each centre for iU opinion. Mr. Young explained that some members objected to the society supplying material unless the proceeds were received by the individual workers, but this, it appeared, seemed to be opposed by the hospital authorities. It wns eventually decided that each centre should be asked to cxliress its views upon the subject, and a committee was set up to wait upon the Defence Minister with regard to the matter after replies had been received. The following explanation was read from tlip authorities in'charge of orthopaedic, work:—"The reason why work executed bv individuals can no loneer be sole) for their benefit is as follow: Previous to the return of a lar«e number of disabled men tb New Zealand .the work was on a comparatively 'email scn'.e, but with the advent of practically the whole of the sick and wounded from Great Britain were a large number'of oases which npeded peculiar treatment. Up to' that l.nriod the work which had been sold mainly consisted of basket'. work, cmbroidery, and, to a limited exlent, carved woodwork. The doctors who hade studied orthopaedic work in Great Britain realised that the whole plan of eampriinn to pducate soldiers for vocations which would be of tise to theni after their 'discharge necessitated their traininj in other directions, and that it was undesirable to confine- the work to such work as mentioned above. It then lwcame apparent that a man who was trained in bootmaking, engineering, etc.. would not have any opportunity of sellinsr hia work in the .same manner as the man who was occupied in basketmakintt, embroidery, and so forth, nnd undoubtedly discontent would arise. Indeed, men who would bo located at consumptive sanatoria Would have their timo ehipfly employed in outdoor pursuits, mid rhey also' would have no opportunity of earnimr money'. ' If tho work of certain individuals who wore, allotted occunarions- in which they could sell ar-ticles'-they hnd made was nerniilted you would probably bo faced with the prol>1 pin'that the men who were at thoso consumptive sanatoria would ask for payments for tho work they did at their outdoor, pursuits. You will tlipn appreciate the difficulty that frees-(ho au-thc'-itips. nnd tho reason why the proceeds' of all work is pooled for the. advantage of nil. There is ypf nnnther reason which makes the sale of articles fnr the benefit of the individual difficult. If the soldier is permitted to «ell certain .articles. Pven t-houjrh mode in spare 'mho, it is more than probable that he would be unwilling to learn other ocaaiiations that would not only hasten recovery, but would be of more value to him when.ho is discharged." After some discussion on the question n resolution was passed to the following elfpct:—That, it be left to the sub-com-•nittee to denl' with tho matter, this committee indicating its view that tho ppursfl.suergpsted by the medical nnthoritins should be supported if possible. Mr. Young and Mr. Tripp were apnointpd the' Riib-^ommittee/to represent tho .WMlinyton Centre when waiting upon the Defence Minister in the matter. '