DOCTORS' STAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23161, 6 October 1938, Page 18

DOCTORS' STAND

HEALTH' PLAN. OPPOSED ' v '- v ' ''' SOCIALISTIC EXPERIMENT - (MEDICAL JOURNAL'S VIEW / ■' ■.——_ SUPPORT BY ASSOCIATION

Advancing the opinion that the scheme is really a proposal to socialise - the medical profession in advance of the rest of the community, the British " Medical Johrnal of August 27 contains a comprehensive analysis of the New Zealand social security; proposals ' ... so far as they affect tho medical profession. It states that a-poll had been .taken in New Zealand and that more than 95 per, cent of the 'members had declared themselves in:. opposition tothe scheme. /* ■ ' f A history of the discussions which proceeded between the association .'andthe New Zealand Government-prior to. j the passing of the Act is given." Tho statement is made . that . the. Government had preferred—apparently from an'erroneous belief that was ' necessitated by some- abstract; socialr, istic ideal ; or principle~tb Parliament a scheme forail • incomplete medical service for the wholo population, whether, they could pro-; •|.vide it for, themselves 1 * or jib. l *' An Irreconcilable* Divergence : L*r. . . '.-A?"*-?' '-'WfmitiA ' 'On the major proposal a universal clientele for tho scheme there ■ was an irreconcilable,.; "divergencealia .the branch was driven to tell the, ' Government that further discussions •were useless," the. journal 6tates.>,'/No, . doubt certain the:; Goverri-; ment had made Uij-stheib f ihinasp;to' create this: ning. * L " This is really .a- proposal to socialise the medical" profession in adi vance of the rest : No doubt if in a democratic' country the people had deliberately determined plotely socialistic" state" : of the, medical profession would"-have to submit to this along, .with, all yother professions, trades *&hd occupations. - No doubt, also, the form of socialisation uni? versal compulsory Contributory insur-ance-—is less objectionable than other methods "be conceived.' • "The people of have, however, pot so decided,, .and there , Beems ho reason whyKthe medical , profession alone should bejehosea, for tnig . experiment. The profession._ m _New Zealand is' convinced that. action,, is not needed by reason'' the condition of ;tho the pro-, posed system would ; bovjinfair- to the doctors and not nearly, so, conducive ,to the general healthy as- the alterna- - five they, themselves suggest: ; - j | Promotion oi Public". Health \ "The prbfassion is atr least as anxious as any other sectipn v-ol' the coin-munity-to promote|.pu£li6?hewlth'"anu.: welfare, / and its e£pencnc<* ■ thwmfttter/ makesits more' valuable than that' oijCfcns* tion," the article continue?. " the cost of the ally a inedical ticners cannot be estimated cost of the ■ including pensions, ia- fdf'tlie.first year £15,000,000 f in .later: " , years to £25,000,000 , /;' this .to be: borne "■%. brl a population totalling " 1 ess than : ; Mr. Nas3^«^^;^istef. Finance, %ays .that met, but the obvious. ' MThere . will,: election before Act comes into operation,- >'ana_• * may be In: any event, the attitfide olj.Jthft'NS*. ; Zealand branch .of?. 'i» ' clear and determined?;A jwU'. has taken, and more the members have declared 'themselye»,'i in i opposition to the scheme.- ; A ji ' Assistance froirfti Englartd '.'Such help as isHrequired from the" central ofißce df the; : association will- he ; membered that the 'central council ? nasi, , accepted the repeal, Of, ,Sir Hetty , Brackenbiiry. In ..tfave - a' fore-, cast of the developmemfe or. ihe present "situation and recommended that contingency thfr - fullest possibly suppori, financial ahd.' bther, shoujd?. bo given to the profession* in New Z6aland. ' .- "With such the journal adds ; /'and if 'th«jDominions maintains /its 'united front, it is not unreasonahle jto "expect a' successful" issue.' Perhaps it is not even now too late for the Government of New Zealand to take some aotlon to avoid what would he a very unfortiinate and Undesirable struggle."

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' VIEW SUPPORT FROitt TWO LODGES ' ' - . >• - V ; . : The effects of the Social Security* 'Act on the wojrk of friendly societies j are being investigated by ' in the Auckland district.-' In several cases resolutions have been passed. . At a meeting of the Auckland Lodge No. 2 of the United Ancient Order of Druids a resolution v was carried stating that, after hearing an address., by r Mr. W. J. Gregory, Dominion president of friendly societies, they failed to see anything in the Act detrimental to the future of the friendly societies' movement. The . meeting expressed every confidence in the Dominion council of friendly societies to look after . the interests-of members. -~' J -Tho Star of Melrose Lodge -Nor 2 of the Independent Order of Oddfel,lows expressed full support for* the aocial security plan as; outlined by the jGovernment,. and stated that it was to assist the Government'in the 'adinimsffation of thelcheme; '