MEDICAL SERVICE FOR FLAX WORKERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2923, 15 August 1925, Page 2

MEDICAL SERVICE FOR FLAX WORKERS.

HOSPITAL BOARD AGREES TO SCHEME.

Representatives of the Manawatu Flaxmill Employees’ Union have been collaborating with the executive of the Palmerston North Hospital Board with the object of iuTiugurating a scheme by which members of the Union and their dependants might receive medical and hospital treatment on lines similar to that given members of Friendly Societies. As a result, the Union has pul forward the following scheme for the Hospital Board’s consideration :

(1) That the Union pays to the Board lOd per week per member agreeing to participate in the scheme, such amount entitling them I.) doctor, medicine and hospital treatment for themselves and dependants; (2) that the Union supply the Board monthly a full list ot names of those participating in the scheme and also a list to the doctors and chemists appointed; (3) that llaxmill employees belonging to a Friendly Society wishing to .join this scheme shall pay a weekly sum of oil. which will entitle them and dependants to hospital treatment only; (-1) that the district be divided as follows: Levin, including Koputaroa, Shannon including Makerna, Fox ton including Motitoa, and Palmerston North including Linton and Tokomaru. The scheme is based on the following ligures: If) Membership. (317 and dependants (wives 220, children 4(j0) making a total of 1297. (2) Population! of the district 7)2,000.

|3) Hospital accommodation 100. Taking the membership and dependants in proportion to the hospital district population, the llaxmill member.- would occupy four beds pmuiineiitlv. and one-third of the

membership being children, the hospital fees under the present charges would be ten guineas per week. Thai amount would make a yearly total of .fall). At lOd per week, (320 members would mean a yearly contribution of .€1343 (3/8 which, after taking away hospital fees would leave €707 (i/8 for doctors' and chemists' fees. (

In the event of the Board’s refusing to accept the scheme, the Union asked what reduction in hospital fees the Board was prepared to make to its members, provided the Union guaranteed payment. The managing secretary reported that the executive had considered the scheme, and reccommcmled that the proposal be agreed to, subject to arrangements satisfactory to the Board, being made with the doctors and chemists. The Friendly Societies' scheme brought in a return of €1 per member per week, whereas ihe scheme under consideration uottld bring in about £2 12/-. Of

the Flaxmill Employees’ Unions’ weekly contribution, about half would be sufficient to cover hospital expenses and ihe rest would go towards payment of medicine and medical attention.

Air. J. W. Bramwell stated that the exciitive had asked for 1/- per week per member, but. the Union offered .Uhl. He thought that the scheme would he. quite workable with the smaller charge, but its success depended wholly on what arrangements the secretary could make with the doctors and chemists. Air. Smart asked if more than the average number of iiaxmill workers was treated at the hospital, at pre--ent, ami it was stated that his was the case. Air Small replied that that was a point that should not be forgotten. The secretary stated that if the Board received lOd, it would be more than ihe Friendly societies were contributing. Air Smart asked if the scheme would be revised from year to year, the secretary replying that such was intended. Mr Bramwell asked that this stipulation be definitely placed before ihe Union, otherwise the matter could be safely left in the hands of ihe secretary for arrangement.

The secretary pointed out that ihe Union wanted sufficient information about the Board’s intentions on the matter, so that it could proceed with a ballot amongst its members.

it was decided to confirm the recommendations of the executive.