CLOSING GAPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24085, 2 October 1941, Page 11

CLOSING GAPS

CONCILIATION URGED APPEAL BY MR. COATES NO SUCCESS BY COERCION (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday "I feel that if the matter can he settled amicably and the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health can meet the rrfedical men at an early hour it is likely that they may be able to come to an understanding and thus remove a great many of the difficulties," said the JRt. Hon. ,1. G. Coates (Opposition—Kaipara) during the debate on the Social Security Amendment Bill in the House to-night. He was given a most attentive hearing. • An appeal for a broad approach to the outstanding issues was made by Mr. Coates. He said the doctors overseas were entitled to consideration on any matter affecting their future. Willing Profession Essential The Minister of Supply, the Hon. I). G. Sullivan: Would they not, have a better chance of getting a start on their return under this bill? Mr. Coates: 1 think we must remember the objection of the medical profession. They say if is coercion. Unless we can have a willing profession there is no chance of making a success of the scheme. Wo must have men go into it willingly and wholeheartedly or we will have trouble and disappointment and the benefits will not reach the people the Government desires to help. There are different methods by which we can approach this thing. ft the medical profession felt it was being coerced and took a stand and refused to work the scheme it would he very difficult and he thought he was right in saying that no member wanted that to happen, Mr. Coates continued. What would happen if an effort was made to drive the doctors? He did not think the Government would get far in such au eventuality. Two Main Questions The amended bill was a tremendous improvement. Ho understood, however, that there were two main questions the settlement of which was wanted. One was the question of a tribunal fixing a lee. The doctors considered it wrong that the fee should be fixed by Statute. The second point was that the doctors were the only section of the community that was to be denied the right of approach to the courts. "Wo have a lot of work before us that affects everybody, so for Heaven's sake do not let us have any acrimony or as little as possible," Mr. Coates concluded. "Where a section believes it is being coerced let us try to get over this even if it means some members have to accept something that is not entirely acceptable to them in theory. It seems that if we are just on the way to closing gaps, let us close them and get on to something else." The debate was not concluded when the House rose until to-morrow afternoon.

RAISING OF PAYMENT DOUBLE PURPOSE IMPUTED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION - ] WELLINGTON, Wednesday "It seems there are amendments proposed which are to come down in committee. There has been a general statement as to what the amendments are to be, but what their actual words and effect will be I do not know," said Dr. ■J. P. S. Jamieson, chairman of the health insurance committee of the British Medical Association, to-night, commenting 011 the amendments to. the bill now before the House. Dr. Jamieson added that throughout the controversy over medical benefits the doctors had never mentioned the question* of the amount of payment for their services. They had consistently kept to the point of maintenance of the quality of their services to the public. "We understand that by the amendments to be proposed the fee for services has been raised by roughly 50 per cent from that originally proposed in the bill," Dr. Jamieson said. "That is not. due to any suggestion whatever from the doctors. One can only conclude that this very substantial advance has been put forward as a bribe. It is a bribe to the doctors to induce them to depart from the principles for which they have stood in order that doctors' services* may be offered as a bribe to the electors." The objectionable features of the bill .still remained, said Dr. Jamieson. There was. so far as he knew, no arbitration. The Minister remained the sole judge without right of appeal, and the medical profession alone out of all the people was denied access to the Courts. Why should the doctors be outlawed? Whose turn would it he next to be outlawed ?

MOUNT EDEN MEETING DICTATORSHIP OF MINISTER A crowded audience in the Methodist Church hall, Mount Eden.'gave a most sympathetic hearing to three doctors who stated their case. Mr. 1 ianrenee Taylor presided, and the speakers were Dr-s. A. Knight, R. R. Grigor and E. H. Roche. The speakers were not inclined to comment, on the proposed amendments to the Social Security Amendment Bill without fuller knowledge of them, but agreed that the granting of the right to charge a fee marked a distinct advance and would afford t lie doctors some protection from frivolous demands. The doctors were nevertheless apparently still under the dictatorship of the Minister. A motion was carried without dissent strongly protesting against the bill. OTAHUHU RESOLUTION SUPPORT FOR DOCTORS Support for the doctors was expressed in a resolution adopted at a meeting of 250 people in the Otahuhu Public Hall. An amendment pledging support of the Social Security Amendment Bill was lost bv a large majority on the voices. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. Murdoch, presided, and the speakers were Drs. Iv R. Lange. B. B. Armstrong. E. O. Rowley. T. R. Plnnkett, V. Griffon and J. •). Valentine. Dr. Plunkett said he had seen the panel system working in London and no sane'thinking person would want to see anything approaching it introduced in New Zealand. It would be the people who would suffer most if the bill was passed. "If the people want a proper medical service they will shun this scheme as they would a plague," he said.