FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4441, 17 July 1922, Page 2

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

HOSPITAL PATIENTSk DISCUSSION BY BOARD. At a meeting of the Thames Hospital Board on Wednesday last a letter signed by officers of the Thames Friendly Societies Conference, Court Pride of Parnell, Pride of the North, Loyal Charles Bruce Lodge, and Dominion Lodge, asked for a reduction on fees charged for Friendly Society members. “We would point out that the total collected in fees for the Dominion was only 29.4, while Friendly Societies pay 50 per cent, on fees. The Auckland Hospital Board has just fixed the rate flor Friendly Society members at 3s 6d per day for adults and 2s 3d per day for children up to the age of 16 years, which we consider fair and reasonable. Under the rules of the conference we pay 2s per day for adults and Is 4d for children ; the member has to pay to the conference the difference. Under the preso.'it scale it will be difficult to collect the difference, namely, 2s 6d per day for adults and 3s 2d flor children.” The secretary stated that the Department had instructed the board to increase the fees to 9s a day, with 4s 6d fcr children up to 11 years and 4's 6d for Friendly Society members. Mr. Rowe said that the societies guaranteed to pay half fees on members. their wives and children, and also collected the anaesthetic fee. The average collected in Auckland was Is sd, a r .d the societies paid more than that,. Mr. Kennedy said if tlie friendly societies did not pay the revenue of the board would drop. The members were the working people, and if the board did not get payment through the societies it would not get it at all. Mr. Death said that it, was not in the interests of the country districts. The members were nearly all town people-, and would benefit under any reduction. Mr, Robinson contended that the local todies had difficulties in meeting levies, and no reductons should be entertained. He was tired of. hearing about the friendly societies. Mr. Hall opposed the proposal. In ieply to Mr. Brcn.an the secretary raid that the Thames Board collected 48 per cent, of fees last, year. Mr. Brenan said that apparently in this district the members of friendly societies were on the same basis as others. They should not pay more than the average collected. Messrs Hall and Robinson proposed that, the request should be refused. This was defeated, and .an amendment moved by Messrs Rowe and Mackay granting the request was carried. Mr. Brenan asked for a return showing the average collected last year. Mr. Death gave notice that he would move, if the figures submitted were above those now agreed ujfoa, that the board’s decision be rescinded.