OTHER SPEECHES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1941, Page 4

OTHER SPEECHES

FOR AND AGAINST

ATTACK ON MR. HISLOP

The Minister of Railways (Mr. Semple) said that the Wellington protest meeting had been a political meeting. Three of the speakers were National Party candidates, including the Mayor, who was a bitter, uncompromising opponent of the Government and had been a bitter and, uncompromising opponent of the last Government, and now was a candidate for the party he had attempted to slay a few years ago. Mr. Semple contended that there was not a single clause in the Bill that interfered with the liberty of the doctors. When it came to a question of the State saying to a long-established profession with long-established methods of practice that it should conduct its business in an entirely different way, was it to be wondered at that there would be a good deal of opposition, asked the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes (National, Hurunui). If the doctors had accepted the proposals without protest he would not have had such a high opinion of the medical profession. The Government should have recognised that it was up against a difficult problem and should have done everything possible to try and smooth away the difficulties. Instead of that, according to what he had been told from the doctors' side, the Government had come down with fixed conditions and wished to get the medical profession to accept them. It was not a question of open discussion but of conforming to a settled policy and settled scheme the Government had in mind. "POLITICAL AGITATION." "I am confident that no agitation in the future will be sufficiently strong to have this Bill repealed when it becomes law," said the Minister of Labour (Mr. Webb). The Minister said he doubted whether members on the other side of the House would have spoken in the . manner they had if there had not been a political agitation against the Bill. If'a division was called for by the Opposition, he would be surprised if many members placed on record their opposition to the Bill. The compromise which had been made would be of great financial benefit to the doctors. The amendments brought down by the Minister of Health were in the interests of harmony and good will so far as the medical profession was concerned. The Bill in its original form would have been a popular measure with the people. Mr. C. G. E. Harker (National, Waipawa) said he regretted the reference by the Minister of Railways to the Mayor of Wellington. Mr. Semple: He never discussed the Bill at all at the meeting. He indulged in slander. Mr. Harder: The Mayor of Wellington will do his duty, despite threats, as he sees it, when he sees it, and in the way he sees it. Mr. H. E. Combs (Government, Wellington Suburbs) stressed the point that everybody should be examined by a doctor at least once a year and said it was important that workers, especially in war industries, should be kept fit. The doctors would be adding to their contribution to the war effort by attending to them. Mr. W. P. Endean (National, Remuera) congratulated the Prime Min- [ ister on the reasonable attitude he had i adopted regarding the amendments, !hnt ha wondered why the Governmenti

would not set up a Royal Commission. He thought that the propositions that a tribunal should fix the rate of a doctor's remuneration and that a doctor should be able to recover any amount above that were fair and reasonable. "CLOSED SEASON FOR OPERATIONS." Mrs. C. C S. Stewart (Government, Wellington West) said she was sure that when the Bill had been in practice for a time the fears that had been expressed would pass away. It might be said that the opposition of thej B.M.A. to the Bill was anti-social and it might be good for all to stage a lock-out and do without doctors for a while. If they declared a closed season for operations it would at least give mere mortals longer life and might enable doctors to reflect more on the causes of sickness. They had the Church stepping in on behalf of the medical fraternity. There; again, as among the doctors, there was] evidence of class distinction. The lower ranks of the clergy were. too [near the working people to cast aspersions at anything likely to uplift common humanity. It was not sd when they came to doctors of divinity, deans, j and archdeacons. They, felt they had something at stake. For a change ! those people when next they graced J the pulpit might return to the Sermon jon the Mount. It might not be so | palatable to some of their friends, but would certainly be more in keeping with their high calling.