MATERNITY BENEFITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 11

MATERNITY BENEFITS

POLICY UNCHANGED

ATTITUDE OF THE B.M.A.

A statement that the council of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association had reaffirmed that the attitude of the profession to the Government proposals was unchanged, in spite of unauthorised statements to the contrary, was made last night by Dr. J. P. S. Jamieson, chairman of the National Health Insurance Committee of the branch after a meeting of the council yesterday.

"Certain proposals were discussed by the council, and the executive of the association was authorised to intex-view the Minister to discuss these proposals in detail," said Dr. Jamieson. There were matters in these proposals which required further discussion,' and while this was taking pla<;e any public reference to the details was inopportune.

Dr. Jamieson issued a warning in regard to recently-published statements as to the association's attitude.

"The association, from time to time, issues, for the information of the public, statements which have the authority of the profession," he said. "It is to be greatly regretted that misconception has arisen through the publication of statements which are neither informative, accurate, nor authoritative. Statements which do not bear the official authority of the association are not worthy of credence."

Beyond the statement that further negotiations with the Minister were in prospect, Dr. Jamieson had nothing further to add.