HOSPITAL DUES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 87, 21 July 1910, Page 3

HOSPITAL DUES

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' CONCESSIONS | .Mr. E. W. Henderson, president of the j Taranaki Friendly Societies' Hospital Association, waited on the T.-.ranaki Hospital Board yesterday, in reference to the request previously made by the Association for a revision of the terms upon which members of the Association were admitted to the hospital. He asked that the concession of a shilling a day now granted to members be increased to two shillings a day. He pointed out that the Association members were oil no better footing than the public generally, although the payment of the members' accounts was absolutely guaranteed by the Association.

Mr. Bellringer remarked that the publie. got thirty (lays' credit, whilst the Association had ninety days'. Would the Association pay monthly if this extra concession were given?

Mr. Henderson said tliac the Association would be able to do that shortly, but not at once, as the Association was £6O behind.

J Mr. Bellringer saicl the positio:: was not an easy one. The Board must not do anything that would appear unfair to the public and the ratepayers. Of course, the Board knew well that the Association paid accounts for men who would not otherwise have paid their maintenances

Mr. Henderson remarked that the Board didn't collect 100 per cent, of the fees due by patients outside the Association.

Mr. Bellringer complained that the secretary of the Association had absolutely declined to furnish the Board with a list of members. Had the Board such a list it would greatly assist in the conduct of the Board's business. Mr. Henderson said he would undertake to have

this supplied if the concession were granted, and the list would be amended

quarterly and kept right up-to-date. In reply to a question, he stated that the Association embraced fully 90 per cent, of the members of the lodges affiliated to the Association. They were now getting on a sounder basis of working. If the concession werq granted it would be a

good thing for both the Association and

the hospital. He said that he knew of

several very large accounts that the Association had paid in full, and for which the Board would not have got a penny privately. The chairman remarked that the Association included many people who were comfortably off. Some of these had got off with the reduced fee when in the ordinary way they would have paid in full. He added that the Association did not include all the members of the affiliated lodges. Mr. Henderson said there were few standing out now. In his own lodge (lnglewood Foresters) there were only four out of 300, and in the other Inglewood lodge about six out of 200. There were nearly 1300 members, and if this concession were granted he believed several other lodges would be affiliated. He expressed the opinion that the Board collected, as a rule, only about half of the fees due. Dr. Valintine said that whilst that remark would be perfectly true, in regard to most hospitals of the Dominion, but not to this one, for the Taranaki Board was prominent owing to Mr. Leppefs success in collecting patients' dues. Mr. Henderson said that even if the Hoard lost only a third his was still a good business proposition. He emphasised that most of the people joining I lodges were young fellows, who would

not be able to pay hospital fees. These accounts the Association guaranteed. Mr. Lepper (secretary) said there were people 011 the Board's books that lie "would go for quick and lively" but that tliey were members of the Association.

Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, who was present, considered the Association's proposition was a good one, provided it could be put on a proper basis, and suggested a conference of representatives of the Association and the Board, to report to the next meeting of the Board. This course was adopted.