MEDICAL SERVICE CONTRACT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23351, 10 June 1941, Page 8

MEDICAL SERVICE CONTRACT

MINERS’ ASSOCIATION’S DIFFICULTY (F 0.0. R.) WESTPORT, Jur 9.. Five hundred miners working m Hector, Ngakawau, Granity, and Stockt6n will be affected if Dr. J. C. D. Simpson, medical officer to the Nga kawau-Stockton Medical .Association severs his • connexion with the association because of arising from the Social Security legislation. If the miners are left any time without a doctor they will cease work. Under the present system the miners have to pay hospital rates, Social Security tax; and Medical Association fees and the association has to pay the doctor’s salary and for drugs. Dr. Simpson, as a member of the British Medical Association, will not sign up under social security, with the result that his fees will not be paid under this scheme. Because of this it was decided to terminate his contract on June 17. . The miners do not wish Dr. Simpson to leave while he is willing to serve under the association if a suitable financial arrangement can be made. In view of this the miners'are signing a petition for Dr. Simpsons services to be retained. The association has suggested a possible way to overcome the difficulty and this will be discussed with the Minister for Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer), who is expected in Westport on June 12.