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THE SOCIAL SECURITY LAW

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —In your issue of even date, in the leading article dealing with the maternity benefits of the social security scheme, you lend your full support to the opposition set up by the B.M.A. to the operation of the national health service by law constituted. During the progress of the last general election you supported and endorsed the statement made by the Nationalist candidates, that a vote for the Government on the issue of the national health scheme would be equivalent to a vote of no-confidence in the medical profession. The voters accepted the challenge, and voted their confidence in the Social Security and Health Act, by law established. This is a bald statement of the actual facts. Yet to-day'you are still supporting the militant members of the B.M.A. in their attempt to undermine and obstruct the law: in brief, to set up a "State with the State." to obstruct and defy the Administration of a legally constituted Government, a policy you have often attributed to the actions of organised wage-earners and as often denounced in unmeasured terms.

In another page of Saturday's issue Dr J. P. S. Jamieson, writing on behalf of the 8.M.A., comments on the seeming inconsistency of Labour resolutions condemnatory of the attitude; cf the 8.M.A., and he avers that the action taken by the B.M.A. is "not only legal, but morally right," and further that "the doctors are morally bound to refuse, for they know that the medical service provided under the Act would be inferior and more costly than that now at the workers disposal." So the people of the Dominion, having decided to face the " cost," per medium of the State treasury, only the " inferiority" conditions remain; and. it, would be interesting to learn from Dr Jamieson how, and whence, the " inferiority " would appear? But the doctor further declares: "There is no doctors' strike." Let us impartially examine the position. The Labour Government passed into law an Act making national provision for superannuation pensions, provision for every form of mental and physical disability, with hospital, medical and nursing provision, and with a liberal provision for the unemployed from 16 years of age. The finance was to be provided by direct compulsory contribution of Is in the £ from income and wages. Hospital, medical and nursing costs were to be paid for direct from the National Treasury, just as to-day, and for many yeaES past, the State medical health service; tlie mental hospital, medical superintendents, and the, children's dental surgeons and nurses have been paid. Now, Dr Jamieson, speaking for the 8.M.A., has declared in definite and precise language that the doctors will not work under any scheme except their own, and that is the existing scheme we are so well used to—a system, that writes down on the hospital records as "a paupjr" every person who is not in a position to pay hospital and medical fees and becomes a burden on the ratepayers. The social security law enables everyone to insure against unemployment, ill-health, the risks of permanent disability, mental or physical, with selfprovision for old age, all being covered by the compulsory contribution of Is in the £ of wages or income. This is the measure the members of the B.M.A. are opposing by a declaration that they will not give service under, it, yet, Dr Jamieson claims, "the doctors are not striking." Well, it is more than half a century since a learned judge on the British bench declared that a strike existed were any organised body of workers, who, refusing to ac j cept the conditions and remuneration offered by the employer, formally notified the said employer, that they would not continue, or resume employment, except under conditions acceptable to the members of the said organisation." A very commonsense definition indeed, as anyone will admit. Doctors, nurses, and hospitals are employed by the patients, I presume, so much is admitted and, under social security arrangements, the patients propose to pay doctors, the nurses, and hospital fees, from the National Treasury, even as they have—without loss of professional or social status —accepted salaries and fees, under contract, from friendly societies and medical clubs in this Dominion for the past 60 years. Yet we are told there is no' strike. Childish nonsense, as your readers must know. —I am, etc., W. D. Mason. Middlemarch, May 13.

,TO THIS EDITOR. Sir.—There are many reasons why members of the medical profession will not accept the health portion of the Social Security Act, in the framing of which their advice was disregarded. One important factor is that relations between doctor and patient should be confidential. It is perhaps not generally realised—particularly by women —that under this scheme doctors are required to write a full report on each case and that . departmental officers have right of access to these reports at any time. There can, therefore, be no security, or confidence in the health provisions of this so-called Social Security Act.—l am. etc.. Benedick.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19390517.2.40.2

Bibliographic details

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 6

Word Count
834

THE SOCIAL SECURITY LAW Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 6

THE SOCIAL SECURITY LAW Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 6

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