LODGE PATIENTS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 142, 18 July 1929, Page 6

LODGE PATIENTS.

J. S. MUNRO.

I'o the Bditor. Sir, — I read the account of the Hospital Board meeting in the Telegraph with much interest, being anxious to know the fate of the proposals submitted to the board's committee. It is due to tlie representatives of the board to say that they niet the friendiy societies' committee in a most friendiy liianncr, and endeavoured to help us out oi a very difficult position, and at the same time safeguard tlie interests of the board. The "creeping and crawling" referred to bv Mr Priest existed only in liis imagination. He was probably in a lnghly imagiuative mood when he made the statement, and he may possibly apologise when in a better frame of mind, i'or using language wliich was offensive and uncalled for. Probably Ihe general public liave little idea what the trouble is all about, and T would orere your indulgence to enable me to put the friendiy societies' side of the case before tlieni. "When the nrrangement was first made with the Hospital Board, a levy of 2s Gd'per member enabled us to pay our liabiiity to the hospital, and leave a balance to our credit in the bank. We nowpay a levy of 3s 6d per member per auarter. niu! are in a very difficult financial position. Unfortunately, every voar the amount due to the hospital has increased "by "leaps and bounds." as the following list will show, the amounts heing made up to December 31 in each case : —

— Making our total liability to the hospital for Jast year £2287 0s 3d. A glance over the above figures indicates either of two things: — That sickness is increasing in this district at an alarming rate, or a very large proportion of the lodge patients are sent into hospital quite unnecessarily. Needless to say, this makes the position increasingly difficult for the Hospital Board, and practically impossible for the Friendiy Societies' Council. If there is another explanation, I should he glad to know it In the meantime the position is &o serious that I submitted a suggestion to the Hospital Board's committee subject to ratification bv the Friendiy Societies' Council) that we pa^ the amount we at present. pay to the lodge. doctqrs to the board on .condition that they provide the wliole of tlie lodge members with rnedieal' attention — a somewhat drastic remedy, but more than justified under the eircumstances. Our best thanks are due to tlie members of tlie board who took up the cudgels in our defence. Trusting .he above explanation will make this somewhat involved matter clear to your TP5ir1r»rs nm rA.e*

A

President Friendlv Societies' Council. Napier, July 17, 1929.

Amount due and paid Year £ s. d. 1921 ... ... ... ... 571 17 6 1922 6S1 7 3 1923 933 8 5 1924 w 939 3 6 1925 ■... 1390 1 3 1 920 ... -...• ... 1253 15 9 1927 1552 9 3 1928 (Amount paid) 1397 1 9 1928 (Amount owing) 889 18 6