B.M.A. ATTACKED

Evening Star, Issue 23881, 10 May 1941, Page 7

B.M.A. ATTACKED

ALLEGEDLY THWARTING PEOPLE’S WILL MINISTER CASTIGATES PROFESSION “ BIG STICK " MAY BE USED [Per United Press Association.l CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. “ Nobody likes to wield the big stick or cares to have to force people to do things that they will not do voluntarily, but at the same time the actions of some people make that course not merely desirable but imperative,” declared the Minister of Health, Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, to-night after condemning an action of the British Medical Association, as disclosed in a letter he read, in advising the doctors to terminate their present arrangements with the lodges if the lodges accepted the Government’s subsidy. A copy of a letter purported to have been signed by Dr Thos. H. Pullar. of the pathological department of the Palmerston North Hospital, in his capacity as honorary secretary of the Palmerston North division of the British Medical Association, was read by the Minister at a social of the dhristchurch South branch of the Labour Party, as follows: “ I have been asked by the chairman of the National Health Insurance Committee of the British Medical Association to notify all secretaries of local friendly societies as follows. If the friendly societies accept the subsidy from the Government’s Social Security Fund they will endanger their existing arrangements for medical services. All doctors who undertake lodge practice have been advised by the council of the British Medical Association (New Zealand branch) to terminate their present contracts or arrangements with lodges if this Government subsidy is accepted by the lodges.” After outlining the provisions of the Social Security Act fulfilled by theGovernment, Mr Nordmeyer said he was pleased to say how much he and the Government appreciated _ the cooperation of chemists in helping them to implement the promise to the people. That co-operation had been in pleasing and direct contrast to the non-co-operation spirit shown by some other people. _ A voice: Whom do you mean P

“ I suppose you will want me to say something about the doctors?” the Minister continued. “ I know you have been saying something yourself, and that what you have been saying will not bear repetition. I know that from one end of this Dominion to the other there are people who feel very strongly about the non-co-operative spirit shown by the B.M.A. They remember, for example, that long before the war started the doctors raised objection to the Government’s scheme. Now they are saying that there might be something to be said for the scheme and that they might co-operate, but they cannot possibly do it while the war is on. The war represents a splendid excuse for some people and for the non-co-opera-tive medical profession. I have said before, and I repeat to-night, that I am convinced that if the rank and file of the medical profession were to have their way we would have the medical scheme operating to-day. Because of the tyranny exercised by persons in responsible positions in the B.M.A. the rank and file are not unwilling, but only unable to co-operate as they personally would like.” An announcement was made recently, the Minister said, that the Government was prepared to repay to friendly society people the contribution they made to lodges in respect of medical care, as a section was being treated by the medical profession. It was a straightforward offer by the Government, which had every reason to expect it to be accepted by the friendly societies and the medical profession. The letter signed by Dr Pullar was then read by Mr Nordmeyer, and there was a cry of “ Shame 1” “ ‘ Shame 1’ says my friend, and 1 am sure that people throughout the Dominion will echo that sentiment.” the Minister commented. “ It is an appalling thing that the medical profession, the council of which this gentleman purports to represent, could go so far in its antagonism to the Government or that it could be so bitter in its enmity. When the Government offers to pay a contribution to the friendly societies—in other words, to recoup them for what they have paid the lodges—it won’t play the game. They say they are not political, buf the people of New Zealand know otherwise.” If the Government did not interfere in any way with the lodges or the contracts under which doctors served the lodges, the payment- to lodge members was no more the concern of the B.M.A. than if the Government said it would give everybody a pound at Christmas, Mr Nordmeyer added. He wanted to suggest that this latest move on the part of the B.M.A. put the association more completely off-side than ever as far as public opinion was concerned. , “ I said oh one occasion recently that we were being urged from different parts of the Dominion to bring greater pressure to bear on the 8.M.A.,” he added. “ I said I understood the sentiments of the people who expressed those views and that if only the people would be patient it might not be necessary for the Government to use strong methods. Further, I said that if it were necessary, the Government would not flinch from its duty to the people. Actions such as this latest taken by the B.M.A. brings the day closer when the Government, however anxious it may be to be co-operative, however anxious it may be to extend the olive branch, however anxious it may be to have this agreement made amicably, will have to use strong measures with an organisation which stoops—l use the term advisedly—to the tactics revealed in the letter I have read.”

The Minister said that he understood that the medical men were saying that the people did not want the scheme, that only politicians wanted it, and that the people had not demonstrated that they wanted it put into operation. He had advised the people to' go to the doctors and show how much they wanted the scheme. The doctors replied that it was unfair to coerce them in that way. The plain fact was that men and women of all shades of political opinion had reached a stage when public opinion would be such that no Government would be able to fight against or neglect the demand for action. Just as the Government was asked during war time to take strong methods against those who sabotaged the nation’s war effort, so the Government in consistency must take strong measures against those who stooped to the level indicated in the letter. “ The greater part of the social security scheme has come into effect, but there is still this one thing to do,” tlie Minister concluded. “The Government is not going to allow its promise to the people to be unfulfilled. It is not going to be balked in its

desire to implement its election pledges by a small section of the community—unquestionably a valuable section. A small section cannot possibly be allowed to usurp the function of government.”