INVALIDED SEAMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9043, 14 May 1915, Page 3

INVALIDED SEAMEN

DISSATISFACTION WITH MEDICAL , INSPECTION. Some dissatisfaction exists among seamen at tho present system under which invalided, men arc examined by a doctor retained by the shipping company owning the vessels to which they belong. The procedure, as described to a “Times” representative yesterday, is for seamen suffering from an illness to get ail order from the captain to the owner, who gives .him an order on a medical man for examination and treatment. The doctor then furnishes tho owner With a report as' to the nature of the complaint ana the period during which the man has had it. Unless the illness has been contracted bn board ship during tho currency of the sick man’s articles, he is not entitled to any pay while on shore. If it is so contracted, the seaman is paid while his 1 illness lasts uploss that period is longer than three months. He is at liberty to go to any doctor for the examination, but in his ignorance of the law usually accepts the services of the medical man retained by the owner for the purpose. Speaking to a “Times” reporter yesterday, Mr W. T. Young, the secretary of the Seamen’s Union,’ said that without casting any reflection on the honesty’ or the integrity of the medical men, he held that if any of them leaned to one side at all, they would bo biased in favour of the retaining side. The union desired an impartial examination and report by a doctor under no obligation to either side. Recently three cases had occurred, one in Greymouth and two m Wanganui, where it was held that the illness of the seaman was contracted before ho joined the ship.

The following resolution, carried at a meeting of the union recently held, has been forwarded to the Secretary for Marine:— “That in view of seamen invalided on shore from ships being required by shipowners to undergo examination at the hands of a niedical man appointed by owner, this union contends that it would 'be more equitable if the examination and attention were undertaken by a medical man appointed .by the’ Superintendent of Marine; therefore the Department of Marine be asked to enforce section G of the Shipping Amendment Act, 1911, which empowers superintendents to appoint medical practitioners.”