ALIEN DOCTORS IN N.Z.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 July 1943, Page 5

ALIEN DOCTORS IN N.Z.

PRAISED BY AUCKLAND MEMBER EXCELLENT JOB OF WORK (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. Praise for refugee doctors was voiced by Mr P. Carr (Govt., Auckland West) in the House of Representatives last night. Mr Carr said he was speaking as one who had recently come through a most serious illness, and he could say that anyone who raised the question of the undesirability of alien doctors did not know what he was talking about. He was glad that such practitioners were in New Zealand at the present time. When he was taken ill he had telephoned to eight doctors and he had received the same reply in each instance, that the doctor could not see him for a week. What position would the country be in if every person needing medical aid, especially those who met with accidents, had to wait a week before seeing a medical man? Mr Carr said that in the electorate he represented two refugee doctors were practising and doing an excellent job of work. It was a working class district, and those doctors were giving full social security service not charging an extra 2s 6d a visit.. He was of the opinion that every medical man should give a full receipt for the money he received. The Government would then know exactly what his earnings were. Doctors throughout the Dominion should accept the charges provided under the Social Security Act. Wages received by nurses were als<» touched upon by Mr Carr, who declared that they were too low. Nurses had to run about a great deal and when they had a day off they were expected to attend lectures. That should be altered and lectures should be included in their working hours.