MEDICOS IN POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 17329, 17 April 1920, Page 8

MEDICOS IN POLITICS

-V ma-s meeting of the medical profession was held in Wigmoro Hall, London, recently to consider the question of forming a body representative of the whole profession. In the course of a long and heated debate a doctor asked ; “ Are we prepared to unite our members and use tire weapon of the strike?” The question elicited shouts of “Yes” and “'Certainly,” Dr Greenyear moved a resolution declaring that “the time has arrived when a body representative of the whole profession shall be established to watch their interests, cud be prepared to act in an advisory capacity as occasion demands.” Sir William Watson Cheyne, M.P., deprecated any tendency toward trade unionism. They needed a body to unify the general opinion of the profession. Half a dozen well-informed men in Parliament would do as well as 20. The resoh tion was carried bv 182 votes to 93. Dr Angus then moved a resolution in favor of a registered medical trade union. Ho claimed that the idea was gaining ground. A strong, straight union would make the Government bend the knee and secure action, apart from fear and selfinterest. (Cheers.) The motion was seconded amid interruptions. l)r W. A. Chappie, ex-M.P., asked if they were prepared to use the weanon of the strike. (Okies of “ Certainly.”) ' They could depend more on the righteousness of their cause. (IJjvroar.) On a count the motion was declared lost by 75 votes to 71. Great disorder ensued. There were insistent demands fo** a recount, This was refused, as some had left. Dt Turner, as a member of a trad© union, appealed for order, but as the disturbance continued the chairman adjourned the meeting which had lasted ever three hours-.—-(London . * Chronicle.*