B.M.A. POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 3

B.M.A. POSITION.

GOVERNMENT PLAN. "POLLING BOOTH \\ o Mion;'.\ rejoin tho t"->-ition "1 the use vi;i -.-i \ ii-i ~ 1 in™ ;u* tr> awtion at ill- }.. m«; "i a- tho .''libo for power." .lt'i-liiK- i •Micmcnt i-j-uol I'} the Xc-a Zealand of Ihe -Mc.lir.,l A--oi iat ie:i in .inswor lo what it i]i> i "tiic ina-s I milo.rlni; proia:ran«'.i th.<l h::.=» horn n —<»<! « it h tin- i'l'Um! '■! "ri: tli i- m<" tv.lti * of tho lne-liea! ;-i uto—inn in a 'iulu" in ro-.aul t" ilio'tr -;.iis,l a-;a;;>: * lie* < ni\ 011111:01:1 V j:, l:.-!'ill JTH. 1.1 I rehemo. Kcj\ inp in tin- c'i.u-.'i- <«f |v.]it:i; the -latrim-i:! doc!.;io- that. w hai cvor the politic- •>; it- indh idna 1 mem ■ «•!>. tlir nf \\a- tint -o ini:Miirlp<l a- So think that a -mall l>> 1\ wioMin;: llKiu -oaMorcd wto- «o;iH -jain from any political alliance. It v.a- well aware that tlir ]'i'.\i-r taken In on* political hoilv w:t- ni-irr hiil a-idc In iir ufcci- -or in olliic- No ;nli:iii;,i;i > \\ ato lie -con in political notion "nt ..:il\ tho di-a.h of ln'ili'j made the tool of politic-. Incentive Lost. Aip ji inp iti i-oiit i-m ion th.it tlir <-o\oriiinonih hrnio would i an-0 a de.teriorat ion of -ta nda i .1-. tin- 15.M A <1 r<laro> That in Nc« Zealand the public expect- it- (lortoi to ho. a roa-oiiahlv • capable. 201101 a! urcooii and to have a working know led'jo of ono or more L nder tiio (;o\ eminent >chonio t hole would no longer ho tho inoontivp to the newly qualified practitioner to under take special -tudio- or lo uaiii exjH'rienoo oversea?, to raw his qualifications and acquire reputation. The inoentive would ho to settle (lo«n at tho. oarlio-t pos-ihle moment in the ino-t promism™ iooality to provide him with a long 15*1 of eonIraot patients.

Denial i*- made that there any re.i I parallel hetveen the. scheme and part -1 imp Incite practice. which cnlarpcexperience and interacts with a doctor'individtial lrw practice to The bene lit of each part.

"It cannot posi-ilily ho difficult to s,-,. why such a scheme must scale down lb* quality of medical work,"' the statement continues. '"Why should r>r. A. take thought and trouble when Dr. 15. draw* hi< ]."■ a head litrhthcartodl.v T Ihe answer. of cour-p, w ill be: *K<-r ■ l,l c of his profession." So the people will >till rely on eharitv. which Michael >axage said was "cold a<s the stone."" Attempts To. Co-operate. npgarding general charges of failing i . co-operate with the <Jovernnient. th • statement recalls that in February, 193 c. it the lirst opportunity after the. T-abou. (•oxornnicnt took office, the branch interviewed the then Minister of Health and offered him its co-operation in tinpreparation of •such measures us hiCovernaient mi«ht he undertaking in tlv interests of the health of the. people. Similar pfforts wprp made at later date.-, including the bringing of an eminent mpdico-soeial authority from Britain, the preparation of a complete medical assistance scheme before the social security legislation was brought down, and subsequent fruitful co-operation regard ing the present maternity and hospital ljenclits. The state-ment declares that the proof the association were evolutionary, practical lines, were based on experience, and envisaged benefit for the whole, population according to actual needs. "Although ostensibly seeking the advice and a<s«-!staiice of the association."" it is stated, '"it is now evident that the mind of the Government, abandoning experience, has long been made up to force upon the people and the profession a completely socialised system of medicine which would make every citizen a beneficiary of the- Statc and every doctor its servant—.State pauperisation and State control."*