ALLEGED THREAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 78, 2 April 1941, Page 11

ALLEGED THREAT

CHARGE BY DOCTOR

MEDICAL BENEFITS SCHEME

POSITION OF ALIENS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, April 1

A statement that a member of the Government has threatened some doctors in an Auckland suburban locality that unless they link up with the Government's State medical scheme and become "blacklegs" he would turn away their work for Government employees to a new doctor who would be introduced into the district was made tonight by Dr. L. Gordon Drury. president of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association and one of the members of the branch which conducted negotiations with the Government regarding the scheme.

"What would trade unionists call that?" asked Dr. Drury in his statement. "The Government says it is not force but gentle persuasian."

Dr. Drury said alien doctors were being approached by persons holding the highest Government positions and were being told that, as they were enjoying the hospitality of New Zealand through the Government, they also must become "blacklegs" and enter into the Government scheme. Dr. Drury said that therefore other doctors and alien doctors were to be used to break down the loyalty of doctors to their association.