MEDICAL SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24070, 15 September 1941, Page 6

MEDICAL SERVICE

ACCEPTANCE DECLINED OTAGO DOCTORS* STAND [by telegraph—PßESS association] DUNEDIN. Saturday

Concerning the Social Security Amendment Act, the Otago division of the British Medical Association passed n resolution as follows: —"The Otago division, recognising the necessity of continuing to supply medical services to the community, pledges itself to continue the same, but firmly declines to accept service under this amendment if it should be passed by Parliament. "That the. medical practitioners of New Zealand cannot consider this amendment or any other radical change in the conduct of medical practice unless proposals entailing such a change are submitted for the opinion of all practitioners absent on active service; that the Government's offer of two years' guaranteed income after demobilisation does not meet the difficulty; that any radical changes may adversely affect the welfare of medical men with 20 or 30 years' active professional life in prospect."

Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government member for Dunedin West) stated this morning that the motion did not represent the opinion of all members of the division. "There arc those who, believing in the traditional British system of constitutional Government, dissociate themselves from any incitement to law-breaking by any section of the community," he said.

WEST COAST OPINION VIEWS OF MEN OVERSEAS [BY TELEGRAPH —PR ESS ASSOCIATION] OREYMOI7TH, Sunday The West Coast division of the British Medical Association resolved that any scheme of medical benefits which is to 1 .< accepted by the profession must he referred first to members serving overseas for their opinion. The West Coast division is in favour of collaborating with the Government to provide a. suitable scheme provided the above resolution is given effect to.