BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 15482, 2 May 1914, Page 3

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. THE £2OO A YEAR LIMIT. [Pee United Pkess Association.] AUCKLAND, May 1. A rather interesting position seems to have cropped up regarding the recent decision of the British Medical Association not to pass for membership to friendly societies any person earning more than £2OO per year. If this resolution is put into effect many of the societies will be seriously concerned, tor it would mean a radical change in the matter of membership. Most of the lodges boast as prominent members leading public men of the city. Those lodges which are affiliated with the Medical Institute have their own doctors, and so are not greatly concerned ; but other orders outside this organisation, who depend entirely on tho British Medical Association for doctors, would be seriously affected. Notable amongst these is the Ancient Order of Foresters. The matter has recently been engaging the serious attention of the council of the Friendly Societies’ Dispensary and Medical Institute. Because of the trouble with the British Medical Association 12 years ago. various friendly societies decided to band together and form an organisation which would bring doctors to Auckland for the especial use of its members, and to establish a dispensary. This movement was successful, and is now on a very sound financial footing. It has a membership of nearly 4,090, employs the services of five medical men, and shows a profit of per cent, on the dispensary. In this organisation it is suggested that lodges now affected by the British Medical Association’s decision should seek refuge. These lodges include Foresters and sections of the Oddfellows and Reohabites. The problem which exercises the mind of the Medical Institute, however, is with regard to tho terms on which they should now be admitted, presuming that they seek to affiliate with an organisation which is now- firmly established, but which in the beginning had many trials to face, and in which these orders then declined to assist- Dr Carrick Robertson, secretary of the Auckland branch of the British Medical Association, said it had been decided that a model agreement, which would incidentally affect the question of salary with regard to applicants for lodge membership, should come into operation all over New Zealand. There were details to be first of all arranged by the Wellington executive, but the new agreement would come into operar fcion shortly.