SOCIAL SECURITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY.

POSITION OF THE DOCTORS. (To the Editor.) The doctors have definitely refnsed to he dragged into the bogy of social security, and it is* a good job for us all that they have taken this stand. If we stop for a moment to consider what would happen if the doctors had fallen we find that there would he a prcatlv increased demand for medical attention. People would l>e running for the doctor for all sorts of trivial complaints. They would sav, "We are paying for medical service, and why should we' not get something for our money?" The doctors would lose all interest in their patients, and when anyone went for the doctor for a really urgent and serious case the doctor would say. "You must take yonr turn. Look at the list of cases, in front of you." Xaturally. if it were a case of life or death, the doctor would l>e offered a "tip" of a. pound or two. The whole open the door to the curse of "tipping," and those who could not afford to give the "tips" could not expect anything like the same treatment. The doctors of Xew Zealand are far too clean and honouralilc to invite such a deplorable state of affairs. As one who has broupht up a fairlv large family and worked hard for over forty-six years. I have no hesitation in condemning the scheme as unworkable. I ° . E. STEVEXSOX.

In his letter of the 12th inst. your correspondent. T. B. Strange, in his adverse criticism of the Social Security Act, ae it applies to medical and health benefits, misse* one or two salient points when he refers to a "breakdown of negotiations' , between the r.ovornment and the B.M.A. As it appears on the face of things, the Government has asked the local branch of the B.M.A. if it will co-operate in the administration of the social security scheme by rendering professional services. The twofold reply of the B.M.A. that "the Government scheme is totally unacceptable to the profession," and that it ifc "solidly and definitely" opposed to the scheme is no answer to tha question. The B.M-A. is not asked to approve or disapprove of the scheme. The Government, not the 8.M.A., k the architect of the scheme, and it ha* already been approved by the electors —and parked into law. All that is asked of the B.M.A. is that it will co-operate as part of the machinery of ministration. • The members of the B.MJL, have a perfect right to decline service—and eo abstain from co-operation—on the ground of conditions of appointment being unacceptable; ! but rio right to "solidly and definitely" oppose an Act of Parliament sanctioned by a majority of the electors. That being so, if the B.M.A. remains adamant, the electors will expect the Government to go outside that association and import from other countries doctors who Trill find the conditions of appointment acceptable. The electors will expect the Government to legislate ta this effect—if necessary. One opines, however, that the B.M.A. will seek "counsel's opinion" on the matter, if it hu not already done eo. * JAT SEE.

Youe correspondent "Get Busy" hit* tit* nail on the head when he suggests that the victims of the social security scheme (there are many besides the doctors) should resist payment both of the registration fee and the tax. They could compel the Government to reconsider the whole scheme, ae ha*> already happened in Australia, where prudent couaaeU prevailed. Mr. Savage has declared that if the Government makes a mistake it can "he corrected. But it is advisable that the correction ehould come before it ie too late. It is easy to lock the stable door after the hone has been stolen. VICTIM.