INSURANCE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 5

INSURANCE BILL.

CLERGYMEN TO BENEFIT. THE DOCTORS' GRIEVANCES. By TclejraDß-l'ress Association-Copyrishl (Rec. August 3, 0.10 a.m.) London, August 2. -Air. Lloyd-Georgo, Chancellor ■of the Exchequer, in a letter to the South Wales Calvanistic Methodists' Associations, states that clergymen come within the provisions of the National Insurance Kill, either as compulsory or voluntary contributors. They would be compulsory contributors if under contract of service and if their salary did not exceed .£IOO per annum. ■ Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr. Lloyd-George said if it was found that hospitals were seriously endangered by tho operations of the Insurance Bill it would be the duty of the Government to find a ren-cdy. He accepted Dr. C. Addison's amendment transferring the administration of tho medical benefits from the approved societies to local health committees, Dr. Addison, Liberal member for Hoxton, declared that tho doctors objected to contract practice, and the prospect of its extension throughout tho country was viewed with alarm by them. His amendment would bo regarded as a fair settlement of tho differences between the societies and the doctors. 16,000 DOCTORS IN REVOLT. The number of doctors who have promised to support the demand of tho British Medical Association for radical change of the State Insurance Bill, failing which they will "strike"—that is, refuse to serve under the Bill-is totalled in June .16,000 of the 25,000 practitioners throughout Great Britain directly concerned. "All have signified," said a prominent official of the association on June U, "their willingness to support the policy of tho association laid down at tho official conference. If tho amendments Mr. LloydGeorge inserts in his Bill do not cover the minimum demand of the doctors we shall then draw up amendments of our own, based on the policy adopted at the conference, which will be introduced in the House by members of Parliament who see the justice of our fight for fair terms." Prominent among the enthusiastic supporters of the association's demand for a .£2 a week wage limit for those insurable, free choice of doctor, freedom from friendly society control, and adequate payment for work done aro men now holding positions as friendly society doctors. Far from aiding Mr. Lloyd-George in his attempts to widen the sphere of club practices, these doctors practically to a man 'are strongly in favour of a system of remuneration by fees for work done and a low wage limit.