DOCTORS AND THE HEALTH PLAN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22431, 18 June 1938, Page 16

DOCTORS AND THE HEALTH PLAN

DECISION NOT TO STRIKE DENIED COMMENT ON STATEMENT BY DR. D. G. M’MILLAN (rSESS ASSOCIATION TELIGHAiI.) AUCKLAND, June 17. “Dr. D. G. McMillan, M.P., is saying something he has no right at all to say when he states that doctors in New Zealand have definitely stated that they would not go on strike if the health insurance scheme is introduced,” said Dr, Frank Macky, president of the Auckland Division of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, in answer to a statement by Dr. McMillan, when giving an address at Taupo on Wednesday night. When giving evidence on the Government’s scheme on behalf of New Zealand doctors, said Dr. Macky, Dr. J. P. S. Jamieson, president of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, stated in answer to a question by one of the Government officers present whether doctors would go on strike, that the doctors considered the scheme so unsatisfactory and so unlikely to be proceeded with that the possibility of going on strike had never been considered. Dr. Macky thought the question had been put by one of the Cabinet Ministers.

“New Zealand doctors,” said Dr. Macky, “have not committed themselves one way or the other. Therefore, it is quite wrong for Dr. McMillan to state that we have agreed not to go on strike. We have never agreed to work with the Government on the scheme because we have not considered that aspect of the matter.”