DOCTORS' CASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 9

DOCTORS' CASE

MORE PROTESTS MADE FEES NEVER AT ISSUE SPRAT TO CATCH PROFESSION There were no dissentients among an audience of over 400 which crowded the Hemuora Library Hall last night when a motion was proposed calling on the Government to withdraw the Social Security Amendment Bill and set up a non-politieal commission to inquire into the health services of the Dominion. The motion, which was moved by Dr. G. ,1. S. Fisher and seconded by Mr. F. A. Speckling, pointed out that the general practitioners resident in the district regretted they could not practise under the bill, and asked that the profession be allowed to present its case on the radio. Mr. G. W. Hutchison presided. He said he understood amendments to the bill had been brought down. It seemed the Government was already on the run. It had thought the doctors were "easy meat," but it forgot they were the friends of the people. The doctors' case was presented by Dr. E. P. Spencer, Dr. A. McGregor Grant and I)r. E. J. Cronin. Dr. Spencer said he had just heard that increases in fees were among the amendments brought before Parliament. This was only a sprat to try to catch the doctors. Fees bad never been the point at issue. In future it might be necessary for both patient and doctor to run the risk of not observing the law, Dr. Grant said. "We are not going to strike or go slow," said Dr. Cronin. "We are relying on you to carry us through." (Loud applause.) ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING EDEN AND ROSKILL ELECTORS The friendly feeling with which the doctors are regarded by. the public was indicated in the rounds of applause that greeted the appearance of a group of them on the platform at the Methodist Centenary Hall. Dominion Road, last night, at a meeting called to voice the opposition of the profession to the Social Security Amendment Bill. The Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. H. J. Mills, presided. An audience of upward of 600 crowded the hall, and when a motion in support of the doctors was proposed only four voted against it. The medical men present were Drs. J. F. G. Richards. J. Dreadon, A. Cumming and M. Hevcoek. Dr. Dreadon said the bill was contrary to the interests of the people as a whole, was bad in principle and was doomed to failure because no such scheme could work without the willing co-operation of the profession. Dr. Cummins moved: "That this meeting, consisting largely of the electors of the Eden and Roskill electorates, desires to inform the Government that it supports the local medical practitioners in their refusal to practise under the terms of the Social Security Amendment Bill. This meeting, therefore, calls on the Government (1) to withdraw the bill and (2) to set up a non-political commission to inquire into the health services in New Zealand, and submit a report on which sound legislation may be nased." A hostile amendment declaring that the Government scheme did not go far enough and proposing complete nationalisation of public health received only four votes. The motion was carried with enthusiasm. OPPOSITION TO BILL MASTER GROCERS' VIEW Opposition to the Social Security Amendment Bill was expressed in a resolution passed by the executive committee of the New Zealand Master Grocers' Federation and forwarded to the Prime Minister. The resolution stated that the meeting, being of the opinion that the liberty of the subject and the freedom of the individual were the bulwarks of British democracy, viewed with concern the Government's proposal to socialise the medical profession. Realising that an important principle was at stake and that a dangerous and unwarranted precedent would be established, the meeting urged the Government to refrain from enacting the amendments. SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION BY WORKERS The following resolution was passed at a mass meeting of employees at the Westfiekl freezing works: —"That this meeting of men and women employed at the Westfield freezing works protests against the action of the British Medical Association in opposing the social security scheme, and that this meeting stands wholeheartedly behind the Government to enforce the Social Security Act."