Maternity Benefit Contracts Find Some Signatories

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 4

Maternity Benefit Contracts Find Some Signatories

Response From Doctors “Not Satisfactory” BOYCOTT NOT FXPECTED NURSES MORE RESPONSIVE Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The following statement in reference to the maternity benefits of tho social security scheme was made to-night by the Minister of, Health, Hon. P. Fraser: “The public will see from the long list of those willing to assist in extending the maternity benefits of the social security scheme to as many mothers as possible which w r ill appear in the advertisement columns to-morrow morning that the maternity benefits have been successfully arranged for. The response from obstetric nurses has been in most districts highly satisfactory. If there are any nurses who have not completed their contracts they would be well advised to do so without delay, so that they will be in time for the first supplementary list. All public hospital maternity wards come into the maternity benefits scheme automatically, while the large number of private maternity hospitals which have contracted to provide hospital treatment in relation to maternity benefits ensure that beds will be available in most localities. Present Number Workable

“As was anticipated in view of the official attitude of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, the response from the medical profession has not been satisfactory, although those agreeing to participate and generally co-operate in the operation of tho maternity benefits, together with doctors on staffs of public hospitals, are sufficient to euablo medical services in relation to maternity benefits to be established in many districts. “ A number of doctors have signed the contracts conditionally and although it has not been possible to complete their contracts in timo for tho first list, every effort will be made to meet all reasonable wishes as quickly as iioseible, so that their names can appear on a supplementary list. Pledge “Made a Year Ago’’

“It has been represented to me that a considerable number of doctors, though they approve of tho terma of the contract, feel bound by a pledge to their association which they were induced to sign last year in entirely different circumstances. Gonditions have altered considerably since the pledge was signed, but these doctors feel bound by the pledge —at least up to a point— in spite of their approval of the contract. It is to be sincerely hoped that this difficulty will be overcome by a reasonable attitude on the part of all concerned. Against Tlieir Consciences “I have further been informed that some practitioners fear that if they sign a contract in accordance with their own wishes, opinions and consciences they would run the risk of professional injury through deliberate non-co-opera-tion on the part of their fellow-prac-titioners. From my knowledge of the medical profession I have no hesitation in stating my belief that neither the official organisation nor any responsible section of the profession would stoop to such methods. “If, as is most unlikely, any irresponsible section or individual would be so misguided as to attempt any such retaliatory methods, then as soon as the attention of the Government was drawn to the fact steps would immediately be taken to combat such reprehensible action and tho full protection of the State would be extended to the practitioner against whom such methods were used.

“The boycott weapon, dangerous at all times and in all circumstances, would earn tho reprobation of all decent people if applied in any form or under any pretext where the lives of mothers find babies were involved and possibly in danger.”

Labour Resolution for Importation of Aliens THERE IS “NO DOCTORS’ STRIKE” B.M.A. STATE THEIR CASE Special to “The Times.” WELLINGTON, Last Night. Reference to the action of a number of trade unions lately in passing motions condemnatory of the attitude of the medical profession in failing to operate the health provisions of the Social Security Act was made to-day by Dr. J. P. S. Jamieson, chairman of the National Health Insurance Committee of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association. “During the past few weeks,” said Dr. Jamieson, “resolutions have been passed by several trades unions condemning the attitude of the a ssociation, supporting the Government, and advocating the compulsion of the profession to operate the medical provisions of tho Act, even to the extent of the introduction of alien medical men to break tho so-called ‘Doctors’ Strike.’ These resolutions have been passed under a complete misapprehension of the true position, and with a strange inconsistency aud disregard of their possible future repercussions on the trades unions themselves. “In the first place there is no ‘Doctors’ Strike.’ The medical work of the country is going on just as usual, and will continue to do so. That being th« case it may be asked was there ever a strike which did not involve a stoppage of work! “Morally Bound to Refute.” ‘ ‘ Though continuing to work, tbo medical piufcssion has been unable to see their way to accept certain conditions and regulations imposed under the Social Security Act, and so have not contracted. In doing so they are acting entirely within their legal rights as proscribed by the Government. This is provided for in Section 86 of tho Social Security Act itself. They are al*J morally bound to refuse, for they know that the medical service provided for these same unionists and their wives under the Act would be inferior and more costly than that which is now at tlieir disposal. “While so condemnatory of the doctors who are not striking, who are legally and morally right, and who are inflicting no loss on the community, we hear no condemnation of the seventyodd illegal strikes that have taken place during the past twelve months and have caused material loss to the country. If Same Happened in industry. “Again, while these same trade unionists have no hesitation in recommending the importation of outside doctors, aud aliens even at that, to meet the present position, it may fairly be asked how would they regard the introduction of aliens to terminate some local Industrial dispute, especially a dispute in which they themselves are involved 1 If the Government would be supported by them in the importation of alien medical men, it is clear they must also concede that the Government would be right in the introduction of, say, coolie labour to quash one of their own real strikes. Doubtless the Government will docket away all such representations for future reference. Direct Service Wanted. “The so-called obstinate attitude of the doctors which these unions condemn, amounts to nothing more than that they prefer to serve their patients directly rather than have Government interference between them and their patients. In the present instance, which concerns the maternity benefits, greater advantages can be given to the patients at less cost by providing the benefit in the form of a cash benefit payable to the patient. In this way the patient would be completely free in making her own private arrangements, which is tar from being the case under the conditions and regulations the Government wishes to introduce. The Government can produce no good reason why this simple and democratic method should not be adopted.”