HOSPITAL AGREEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1932, Page 5

HOSPITAL AGREEMENT

WITH TIMBER WORKERS. GREY BOARD’S DELIBERATIONS. (Grey Argue.) At last evening’s meeting of tho Grey Hospital Board, the Chairman, Mr -J. \\ . Hannan reported that a conference between representatives of the Westland Timber Workeis’ Union and representatives of the Westland, Inaiigahua and Greymoutli Hospital Board had been held the previous u.ty, with regard to the agreement between the Boards and the Union. The Unnm representatives offered, 'first, to enaer into an agreement 011 the terms mat each member of the Union contribute 10 shillings half yearly, payable in ad-

vance, provided Hie Union member

ship was 700 or more. The Board delegates were of the opinion that it would he possible to collect up to a membership of 1,000, and avere not prepared -> accept the offer. Then the delegates were asked to consider 12s Gel half-yearly, but they were not prepared to accept that either. They however, decided to accept los half yearly, which was 30s annually. The letter, which has been sent to the Union, was then read: “I have to advise you of the following resolution passed at the conference on January 20th : ‘Tlin't the delegates to the conference are not prepared to accept the proposal of Westland Timber Workers’ Union to enter into an agreement on the basis of £1 per annum payable half-yearly in advance; but are prepared to recommend to their Boards to enter into an agreement with the Union on the basis of £1 10s per annum per member, payable half-year in advance.’ ” Mr F. L. Turley said lie was ratlier surprised at the outcome of the conference. The representatives of the Union had definitely made an offer of 12s Gd half-yearly, which was the maximum the Union could offer. The letter was misleading and conveyed quite a impression to the timber workers.

The Chairman, said the offer made wiiis 10s. though it had been later suggested that the Hospital Board’s consider 12s 6d, but it was found that even this amount could not be considered.

Mr Turley said the Union'delegates did not say 10s was the maximum. The offer was definitely 12i 6d halfyearly. There had been too many wrong impressions conveyed about the Union. As a member of the Board, lie considered the Board would he well advised to accept 25s annually, payable half-yearly in advance. It was easy to say what could or could not be accepted, hut now that wages were down to 13s 6d a day, while they were once at a minimum of 15s, it was impossible to ask for any greater rfmount. The Union was not unlike other organisations on the West Coast, which had as well as the Timber Workers’ Union, gone back some huiutreos of pounds on their payments. Sixtynine ner cent, of the total collepted by the Union went to the Hospital Boards. He would later ask for returns of accounts created by the Union, over the period from July Ist., 1931, to December 31st., 1931, The timber workers knew they owed n considerable amount, and hoped to meet these obligations when they were able to do so. One thing about unions, was that they met their obligations. The amount they offered the Boards was 35 per cent. To see where the Board stood in the matter, he would move that the Grey Hospital Board was in favour of entering into an agreement with the Westland Timber Workers’ Union, providing for the payment of 12s Gd half-yearly, payable in advance, and that this hoard ask other West Coast Hospital Boards to agree to this proposal. He would like to see the motion carried unanimously.

If it was. it would lie a good lead for other Hoards. The. Board would get a considerable amount "more money in this manner, and have it paid in advance. It would also give the Union a better chance of paying its outstanding accounts to the Board. In these matters his Union seemed to be the scapegoat. For the benefit of otlie,” Unions, be made bis statement to show that other Unions were likewise in a bad way on account of bad limes.

If the Board accepted the terms they would he doing everybody—<tht' rntepavers and the Board a good turn. The offer also conveyed the suggestion that if the 25s yearly did not come up to the 25 per cent, the Union would make it up, and if it. was over the ,H 5 ner cent, the Board should put the surplus to the Union’s outstanding account. Ur Carter: Why not make it 10 per cent? Mr Turlev: Wages have dropped and surely the Boards should meet the Union.’ Was not a definite offer of ]2s Gd made Mr M.ulmro? Mr Mule,-no said that 12s fid had been suggested at the conference as a basis for discussion, and finally Mr Turley had agreed that lie would go hack to the Union deegatos and, perhaiv recommend it. The Chairman- I heard of no definite offer of 12s fid. Ur Ibirrowmati: Wlli.T, did the limber workers pay in the first inslanse ? Ur Turley: Cl per year up to Cl ,000 for till' first year. It then increased mid we paid £ 1.700 per year. ,\t the tine it was estimated that there were 1.200 members. The Chairman ; The timber workers utl'er 12s 6d a year, which amounts to

5d a week. What are the Board going to do t

•u' R. AlcTaggart seconded Air Tur-

ley’s motion. The Chairman said that allotments amounting to £359 were sent out recently to timber workers' but only £52 was collected. Mr Turley: There was not one timber worker who did not receive a circular that the Hospital agreement ended on June 30th. Air ill. Clarke said he failed to see how an individual could pay Hospital accounts, and he thought the Board ■would be wise, when they were looking for revenue, to accept the offer of 35 per cent., although it seemed a small amount. He would support the resolut on.

The Chairman : The resolution is that we now accept this amount- of 35 per cent, per year. This Board would get seven-tenths of it, about £6OO per year. Ah' R. A. Barrowman : There is no guarantee that things are going to improve and it is impossible to know how they are going to keep their obligations.

The Chairman : A’ou will have to put all Unions on the same basis. Air Alulcare wanted to see the Aimers’ Union put on the same basis. The mines worked two and three days a week, whereas with the timber woiAers if a mill started, they worked constantly, otherwise they did not work at all ; they worked more time than the mines. Air Turley; Not this last twelve months. The mills only work two or three day s a week, Wallis’ mills worked eight months in the year and are easily the best of any on the Coast. The Chairman ; The position seems to me to be that wp are asked to accept Ess per man, per year, and do pot know how it will work out, Should the Board enter into an agreement with anybody, no matter whether lie is a member of the Union or not, as long as

he pays 25s a year? Air .Turley : You know that the onlyreason it is good for Hospital Boards is that it i s the number that .counts and spreads the thing over a large proportion. The Chairman : They could put an advertisement in the papers stating that treatment would be given in the Hospital on Hie payment of 12s 6d halfyearly in advance. A member: That would not * do. People would come tip when they were sick and pay the 12s 6d. Air Turley: Of course the timber worker would have to pay for outside

treatment. Air Alulcare ; What is wrong with including all those in receipt of under £3OO a year? Air Turley : You can only have agreements through organisations. Air Barrowman : Are you going to deal with the timber workers only, or place other organisations on a .similar basis. If the timber workers’ offer is accepted, then the Board will have to,reduce the other Unions’ payments. If they are reduced, we will be having the Friendly Societies’ asking us to allow them to 'come-into an agreement-, The Chairman: And we can tell the ratepayers that their rates will be increased next year! Mr Turley : That’s alright, Mr Chairman. That’s only for the Press, They won’t have to pay any higher rates. The Chairman : You’re the Press, Mr Turley.

Mr s O’Brien asked from whom the Board was going to collect its fees. Mr Clarke; Whom do v.-e get them from at the present time?, Very few, from what I see of it, since I have been on the Board, pay their accounts in full. The Chairman said there was £7,000 collected during the last nine months and such statement as made by Mr 'Clarke were incorrect. The Acting-Secretary, Miss K. Greaney, said that 80 per cent, of the fees were collected last year, whilst during the past nine months of the piesent financial year, much more fees had been collected than in the previous nine months. The Chairman said the matter of a new agreement required much more serious consideration. It was a big financial question. If a reduced agreement were entered into, they would have to treat other Unions in a like manner and leave it open also to anybody with a salary under £250 a year. He was quite sure the rates would have to go up if they' all receive this reduction. The State Miners’ Union Medical' Association owed the Board £283, Blackball £574 and Grey Valley £464. Mr Turley said the timber workers were the chopping block. The Chairman; We don’t want agreements ; they are no good. Mr McTaggart : You have got to take what they can pay, or cut them out altogether. We have got to accept something; we can collect or scrap the whole lot.

Mrs O'Brien suggested holding over the matter and having no agreement until March. Mr Turlev considered that if the amotii.iit worked out at 35 per cent., the , »oard was getting a better agietinent them it was entitled to ; that was, if the accounts were paid up to date. There was a reduction of 10 per cent, in wages and there should be a reduction in the Hospital tariff. Mr Mulcare : The Board have not cut wages and salaries here. Mr Turley : It won’t be long before wc are compelled to, I am afraid! Mr Clitrk: Certainly times are Hut like they used to be. Mr Muleare moved an amendment that the matter be held over tor a month arti that a Committee of be set up \o see exactly what it would mean in the reduction of revenue to the Board. The speaker was j'ist as sympathetic to the timber workers as Mr Turley. Wharf labourers, railway servants and struggling farmers were nil in the same position. There was nut the slightest doubt if a reduced agreement were entered into, the

miners would want the same terms. He knew for one himself, he would form a Union amongst the “cow cockies” and come along and get the bene, fit.

-Mrs O’Brien seconded the amendment. She was sympathetic to the timber workers and other but at the same time, would like more information on the subject.

Air Turley said the Union had to arrange its finances and contributions for the year c onditionally on having the agreement. He believed the Board would support the acct-pfing of tlie agreement, but in the meantimo they would be held up and no opportunity would be given to c-llect- the contributions hv April Ist. Air Alulcare said he did not realise that the matter called for such an immediate decision.

Air Clark asked if the Union had paid up its whole debt of £7OO to date, how would it work out.

The Chairman said the Union would then have paid 40 per cent., but they had not paid it.

Airs O’Brien: I understood that it worked out at £1 I2s a year.

Air Turley: That’s not right. AVe do not collect for the Hospital. AVe collect £2 12s a year off each member. He would defy any member to say they were aware of his (Mr Turley’s) intention to move the motion. It was all very well to delay, and go outside and have a good talk about it. Mr Carter said that the farming people were envious of these agreements, They had to p#y rates, etc,, and- on top of this pay tbe’r hospital fees of 9s a day if they were unfortunate enough to have to go to the hospital. If-Mr Turley guaranteed 3d per cent, he thought it wo ;ld be all right. Air Me Taggart: Reduce other Medi* cal Associations now, Mr Turley: You have rechieed their accounts during the past few months. Air Alulcare said that a Drger proportion of miners than of timber workers were ratepayers. Air Turley said it would nob effect the rates. Friendly societies in Hokitika were only paying £1 to the Hospital Board, with Iheir members better able to pay. He thought it good finance, as it was also to take £1 a year.

The amendment was then put to the meeting, the voting being: For the amendment, Messrs Barrowman, Kyle, Alulcare, Carter, Airs O’Brien and the Chairman., Against: Alessrs F. Turley R. AlcTaggart and 11. Clarke. The amendment was then carried, and the Chairman, and Alessrs Barrowman and Clarke were appointed a committee to go into the question.