NATIONALISING THE DOCTORS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15536, 11 March 1916, Page 6

NATIONALISING THE DOCTORS.

THE NEW SOUTH TV ALES

SCHEME.

Fuller detailsof 'the statement made New South, Wales Minister of Education to the effect' that if the new school clinics' scheme 1 works satisfactorily, the Government will consider the advisability of nationalising ; the medical profession, is contained in the files-to hand-by this week's mail.

vMr Griffith said th«it the Government was up against a big and power-" i'ul organisation,' and would need the whole-hearted assistance of every league and every individual member in the league if" the Government's proposal was-to be carried out successfully. He informed the meeting as to why the step had been taken to appoint Government medical officers to inspect the schools, and he referred to the excellent work dono in Germany amongst the children, resulting in &uch physically fit German men and women. Mr Griffith saiu-that in their own-interests, and rightly so, too, the members of the B.M.A. were strongly opposing the Government's proposal, deeming it tbo first step to the nationalisation of their profession. . , The Minister added that he did not intend to mince matters, and would tell them straight out that if the new scheme worked successfully the Government would further consider .the advisabilitv of nationalising the medical profession, lie said • that at the Cabinet meeting held that afternoon permission was piven to bring in n. Bill,for voting £5000 towards the proposal, and should any of the B.M.A members refuse to meet the Government doctors in consultation, the Government, would he empowered to cancel the registration of such offendins doctor. It was proposed t., pay £000 per annum to the Government doctors, and. if noressary, they would even pay up to £1000. in order to '"et the best doctors orocura.ble. For the"pnblic good, he looked forward to the time when medical attendance would be free to eve-rone, services paid bv the St?te. He-hoped that thev would all rally round the Government in order to see the matter through.