MEDICAL AID CLUB, ST BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 299, 20 November 1874, Page 3

MEDICAL AID CLUB, ST BATHANS.

A meeting of the residents of St Bathans was held in the National SchoolToom on Saturday evening last, for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of forming a Medical Aid Club at St. Bathans. Mr. George Purton was voted to the Chair.

The Chaibman stated to the meeting the object for which it had been called, 3 viz., the desirability of forming a Club in order to secure medical aid to those who were unfortunate enough to meet with accidents, or to bo laid prostrate with sickness, without having to pay the really exorbitant charges which, owing to the great distance from medical assistance, they were! now forced mto. Ho then called upon the persons present to consider well the question before them, and he trusted that it would bo discussed fully, so that the views of the people mighi be known. Mr. Mohton feared that the attempt to form a Medical Aid Association would not succeed. This was not the first time they had moved in the matter. Twice before a Club similar to the one proposed had been set on foot, and they Jbot.ii. sig-, nally came to grief, notwithstanding the. fact that they then had the abvantage of having a resident doctor (Doctor Harvey) in their midst; and then, too, the population was much larger than now. He would like very much to see a Medical Club firmly established, but ho felt confident that it would be simply impossible for such a Club to last for many months, owing to the floating naturo of the population—they wore here to-day and gone to-morrow, and when they left all their interest with Lie Club ceased. Although he (Mr. Morton) thought it vain to .think of starting a Medical Aid Club, still ho wffs of opinion that, the object they had in jiew would be met.hy.the formation of a

Lodge of the. Ancient Order of Foresters. He spoke from experience, as he had been a Forester for the last twelve years. He believed a strong Lodge might be opened at St. Bathans, because all persons (no matter what creed they professed, or to what nationality they belonged) could become Foresters—provided, of course, they were in a sound state of health: they would have to pass a medical examination.- There was a lasting benefit to be gained by being a Forester ; for, whereever you went, a hand fellowship would be lield out to you by the order. (Applause.) .J Mr. Bunny said that, as the meeting was not a political one, he might fearlessly express his views, notwithstanding that ne was a Government servant. Nay, he felt sure the Government would encourage him to assist;in anything which was calculated to ameliorate the position, or lessen the sufferings of._his fellow-men; and surely they would agree with him that it was a great suffering to be so far away from medical aid. He was a strong advocate for the formation of a Medical Club; and, in order to bring the question practically before the meeting, he would move—" That it is desirable that a Medical Club be at once established in St. Bathans." He (Mr. Bunny) totally disagreed with the last speaker (Mr. Morton) that it would be preferable to or-, ganise a Lodge of the Foresters, as he maintained the object required would not be attained by having a Benefit Society of any sort established, because they Would find it very difficult to come to satisfactory arrangements with the doctor. Indeed, he was of opinion that they would be unable to come to terms with a medical man at all. Again, Mr. Morton had told them that, before a person could be admitted into the Lodge, and enrolled as a member, he would have to produce a medical certificate as to his sound health and constitution. Now, this fact was his (Mri," Bunny's) strong point, and he felt sure that this reason alone would clearly show them the advisability of at once forming a Medical Qlub, and would force them to abandon from their minds at once the idea of only forming a Benefit Society. Had they met there that evening to provide for the strong and healthy alone ? "Were they going to leave out the sick and unhealthy—the persons who would be unable to pass a medical examination, who would be the very persona that would most require a doctor? Were they going to leave them out in the cold? And then again the single young ladies could not join the Foresters. Nevertheless, they were liable to illness. There was a young lady, living not far from that building, and he saw in the room many single young men who, ho knew for a fact, who were doing their best to woo and win her hand (great laughter), would they not provide for her ? He was sorry to see that mining accidents were quite common occurrences here. He had only been into one cemetery, and there he was pained to see the stern fact solemnly chronicled that four or five young men had, on different occasions, been without warning hurled into the next world. ; Had he gone into the other cemetery, no doubt he would have seen the same sad tale related there. In order to be prepared for these, we must at once establish a Medical Club. (Applause.) Mr. Mohton moved, as an amendment to Mr. Bunny's resolution—"lhat it would be more conducive to the general requirements of the people to form a Lodge of the Loyal Order of Foresters." Mr. J. Eagle seconded the resolution.

Mr. J. Ewing was strongly in favor of a Club being formed. He thought it the only step that could be taken. Yet he did not see why they could not have both. If people wished to join the Club, all well and good; if, on the other hand, they were anxious 'to become Foresters, by all means let them. He did not think the two would elash. He would support the resolution.

Mr. Gibson P. Gilmobe thought that the two would most decidedly clash, and it would be a lasting pity to have a split in the community. He was in favor of'a Club being formed, and would support the resolution.

Mr. G. H. Smith said he had listened attentively to what bad fallen from the variouß speakers. For his part, he would suggest the advisability of some wise arrangement being made with the Hospital Committee at Naseby, whereby invalids might be sent over and admitted into the hospital at a low rate. He would prefer seeing a Lodge of the Foresters or Oddfcllows formed, rather than a Medical Club, as permanent personal' advantages would be derived from a Benefit Society. He would accordingly support the amendment.

Mr. Samuel Tukneb was strongly in favor of Benefit Societies, as he believed they did much good; but he must confess that the district was not as yet sufficiently advanced to form a Society;which would be Btrong enough to hold out good inducements to a doctor. It was nonsense to think a branch of any Benefit Society that might be established here would be on the same footing with a branch in a town, where there are one or two doctors. The only plan before them would be to form a Club, as advocated by Mr. Bunny; for, if a Lodge of the Order of Foresters was organised at St. Bathans, it would ultimately have to form itself into a Club The wisest thing they could do that night would be to form a Committee for the purpose of enquiring into the matter, and they could report the action they had considered uecessary to take to a subsequent general meeting. He would therelore move, as a further amendment—- " That a Committee be nominated for the purpose of communicating with a medical man as to the terms for which he 'would visit the district." Mr. Lebmont seconded the amendment. Mr. Bunny said Mr.- Turner's amend-' ment would meet his views; and that liewould vote for it. The amendment "teas put by the Chairman and carried. , Mr. Tukner then moved that/the Committee consist of Messrs." George Bunny, TV. Pyle, sen;, JJorton, W. WiU v liam& i(jVyelshm'an'B)v Ihder (Black'stdse Hill), the ndoyet'. Seconded by Mr. E. Woods, and carried. A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried by acclamation, and the meeting dispersed. .