To Commence On May 15

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1939, Page 7

To Commence On May 15

-MATERNITY BENEFITS

[Per Press Association. Copyright.} WELLINGTON, This Day. The Minister of Health, the Hon. ’P. Fraser, announced today that arrangements for the completion of. contracts with licensees’ of private hospitals, medical practitioners and obstetric nurses had progressed sufficiently for him to determine the date on and after which maternity benefit would be available. ■_ 1 This commencing date is Monday, May 15. •') v The president of the Auckland .Division of the British Medical Association, Dr. F. J. Gwynne, said last night that he had no knowledge that the Government had re-opened negotiations on the lines suggested by the association. Nothing beyond what the Minister announced previously was known in Auckland. ■ . .

List Of Signatures To Contracts To Be Published

[Special to " Northern. Advocate ” 3 AUCKLAND, This Day. While the British Medical Association officially maintains its absolute refusal to recommend its members to enter into contracts with the Government to give medical services in relation to maternity benefits under tbe Social Security Act. the' Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, announced in Wellington yesterday that maternity benefits would be available next Monday. ' .

Both the officers of the British-Medi--cal Association in Auckland and the maternity hospital licensees declared today that they knew nothing of gny new arrangement, but it was learned from a reliable source that a list of medical practitioners and proprietors of maternity hospitals who had signed the contract was now being prepared, and would be published later in the week.

Northland Doctors’ Attitude

Further negotiations with the Min- - ister of Health regarding, administration of the maternity section, .of the > Social Security Act have been entered into by Northland practitioners.

At a representative meeting held recently a reply was received from Hon. P. Fraser to suggested amendments made by Northland doctors, more particularly regarding duration of attendance and travelling ex-

penses. , “The position is exactly the same ( as it was after our first meeting,” stated the chairman of the meeting. “Negotiations are proceeding:'With the Minister, and we are awaiting his further reply.” .

Young Assailant Sent . . ? To Mental Institution

[Per Press Association. —Copyright.} PALMERSTON N., This Day.

Following a charge of assaulting a young woman, who Was serioysly injured near the Fitzherbert Bridge on April 26, the youth of; 16. who; Was remanded last week for examination by an alienist appeared in the Police Court today, ••

The medical report, recommended that Accused be placed in a. mental institution, and this is to be clone.