THE MEDICAL BENEFITS SCHEME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 5

THE MEDICAL BENEFITS SCHEME

TO THE- EDITOR Sir—May I be allowed to inform Dr McMillan that we are quite conversant with the fact that we have in Otago two or three doctors who do not approve of the motion passed by the Otago Division of the 8.M.A.? With one exception, those who form tins insignificant force are, unfortunately, British-born persons prepared to sacrifice their birthright by joining the ranks of the black-leg brigade and with the assistance of our Socialist Government, engaged in an attempt to

Hitlerise and subjugate our loyal doctors who are rendering to the Empire a magnificent service both at home , and abroad. Any attempt to drag this honourable profession into the gutter of Socialism will be strongly opposed by every decent unionist or other citizen who believes in British freedom and fair play. ■ ... .. It is quite evident, Sir, that the doctor who is going to reap the benefit of this scheme is the one who, from some cause or other, has been unable to build up a remunerative practice in the past. Now he' will be able to dig in and fortify himself behind a screen of signed contracts; with the result that our soldier doctors on their return will in most cases be compelled to accept charity or a paupers dole from a so-called humanitarian Government. May I ask your readers: Are we' going 'to face up to our obligations and protect the interests of our doctors on active service or betray the trust imposed upon us by those who are protecting us?—l am, etc., H Matilda.

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—Your report on the meeting of the Otago doctors would make it appear that the Otago medical men are 100 per cent, behind the Otago Division of the B.M.A. in its decision not to operate social security should the present Bill be passed by Parliament. Surely within Otago there are members 'of the medical profession who will not align themselves with lawbreakers. The elections in 1938 found Labour making one of its foremost planks the operation of social security in its entirety. Mr Adam Hamilton, then leader of the National Party, declared: " There is no demand from the public for the health proposals. The medical profession is strongly opposed to it: it is merely a political stunt. This on the eve of the last election. The Nationalist candidate for Remuera declared: "We have Savage and company fiddling with a super-pensions scheme. We are going to put a stop to this "sort of thine when we get into power." Five hundred and thirty thousand four hundred and thirty two voters of this Dominion saw that they did not get into power, and thus gave Labour a mandate to continue with Social Security. When railwaymen at Otahuhu and Woburn and watersiders in Auckland decided to flout the law and go on strike the Government stood firm and the men returned to work. Should the doctors or any other trade unionists—for the B.M.A. is as much a union as any other combination of workers—in the future decide to adopt a similar course of action it is to be hoped that the Government will adopt the same measures as it did in the above cases.— I am. etc.. A. E. Farrant Moeraki.