Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative. Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.–Editor.] Correspondent Describes Conflict Between Hadassah and Palestine Labor Organization

A conflict has developed in Palestine between the medical organization of Hadassah and the Histadruth Ha’Ovdim, the Palestine Labor Federation, we learn from the Jerusalem correspondent of the “Jewish Morning Journal.” While the correspondence, dated Jan. 12 and appearing in the “Jewish Morning Journal” of yesterday, was written before the resignation of Dr. Bluestone, reported in the “Bulletin” of Feb. 1, as Director of the Hadassah Medical Unit in Palestine, it would appear from the facts given by the writer that Dr. Bluestone’s resignation was due to this clash between the two organizations.

The correspondent explains that organized Jewish labor in Palestine besides receiving a proportionately large share of the subsidies granted by the Zionist organization to various Jewish organizations, maintains its own autonomous schools and also its own hospital for its sick workers, which is supported from the Zionist funds and from special dues paid by the workers for this purpose. In addition to this the Histadruth Ha’Ovdim enjoyed special privileges at the Hadassah institutions. According to an agreement between the Hadassah administration and the Histadruth sick workers who applied to the Hadassah hospitals were given precedence over other applicants and when unable to pay received treatment gratis, whereas other poor patients were charged a small fee.

The new administration of the Hadassah under the directorship of Dr. Bluestone announced some time ago that beginning with 1927 no privileges would be extended to anyone. Impecunious patients, whether coming from labor organizations or not would receive free treatment and all who are in a position to pay would be charged a fee, while acceptance in the hospitals would be based entirely on the physical condition of the applicants.

When this new system was put into practice on January first, we read further, the Histadruth objected, arguing that the labor organization was entitled to special privileges because it maintains its own hospital which is kept up largely from the members’ dues and which eases the burden for the Yishub and for Hadassah. Moreover, the Histadruth contended, the workers are employed in unhealthy places, live under abnormal conditions, and the majority of them are alone in the country and friendless, hence they should be given first attention. In reply to Dr. Bluestone’s statement that the Hadassah is an institution for all classes and cannot practice discrimination the Histadruth warned that unless its demands would be granted it would make a public issue of the matter.

The Histadruth has addressed the Zionist Executive on the subject but the Executive has taken no action. A mass meeting of the workers protesting against the Hadassah was held in Jerusalem.