REJECTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 6

REJECTED

STATE MEDICAL PLAN DECISION OF DOCTORS MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 17. The following resolution, to be forwarded to the Minister of Health, Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, was carried at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association held in Wellington to-day: "That the council of the British Medical Association, recognising the necessity for continuing to supply medical service to the community, pledges its members to provide such service; but informs the Government and publishes forthwith in the press that in' view of its objection to the proposed amendment to the Social Security Act, medical practice on and after October 1, 1941, will be carried on as formerly." CITIZENS PROTEST GREAT GATHERING IN WELLINGTON SUSPENSION OF BILL SOUGHT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. One of the greatest protest gatherings ever seen in the Town Hall, Wellington, assembled to-night to give an enthusiastic reception to speakers against the Social Security Amendment Bill. The Town Hall has a total seating capacity of 2700, and fewer than 100 seats were unoccupied. There were not more than 20 people who interjected unfavourably against the seven speakers, all of whom gave their addresses to the accompaniment of loud applause and cheering. The speakers were the Mayor of Wellington, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, who presided, Mrs Annie Down, Sir James Elliott, Mr Stronach Paterson, Mr B. V. Cooksley, Mr Will Appleton. and Mr E. P. Hay. The meeting finished on a wave of applause lasting several minutes.

Amid the greatest enthusiasm the following resolutions were carried unanimously:— "That this meeting of Wellington citizens condemns the Social Security Amendment Bill before the House of Representatives for these reasons:

1. The Government has not a mandate from the people for such measure. 2. The measure infringes the rights of the subject, is dictatorial and coercive, and unjust to members of the medical profession now serving overseas. 3. It spells the nationalisation of the medical profession, and means the abolition of private enterprise. 4. It does nothing to promote national health or provide specialised

treatment. " That the conveners of this meeting be authorised to arrange for- a monster deputation to wait on the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, to place the first resolution before him, and that the Government be asked to suspend the contemplated legislation pending further consideration with a view to providing a service that will meet more effectively the full requirements of the community." CANTERBURY DOCTORS OPPOSITION TO MEASURE "TEMPTING BAIT FOR ELECTORS" (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 17. A resolution that the members of the Canterbury Division of the British Medical Association are unable to give service under the Social Security Amendment Bill, was passed at a meeting of the division this week. In a statement supplied to the newspapers by ths division, the reasons for the doctors' attitude to the legislation are set out. The division asks for the immediate appointment of a technical commission to inquire into and report on the health services of the country and to put forward a plan for a complete medical scheme.

The reasons given by the division for its inability to give service under the new plan are set out in a statement as follows: — 1. That the health of the people of New Zealand would not be improved, but would be worse than under the present system. 2. That while 30 per cent, of the actively practising members of the medical profession are on active ser. vice overseas, those remaining refuse to pledge their absent colleagues to such a comprehensive scheme. 3 That the personal relation between the doctor and the patient is endangered. J 4. That the present depleted numbers of the medical profession remaining in New Zealand are incapable of undertaking the extra work involved in working under such a universal scheme. 5. That the Bill tends to destroy the incentive and opportunity for doctors to improve their skill and knowledge and will lead to a deterioration, in the standard of medical practice. The statement continues: "The hope was freely expressed that now that the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. had returned fresh from a visit to our troops in the Middle East and intimate experience with the British War Cabinet, he would be able to persuade his colleagues and the Labour caucus to drop such a contentious measure until the repatriation of our forces has been completed. The doctors felt that this scheme was being rushed through Parliament to provide a tempting bait for the ■ electors at the coming general election, and that, whilst, the impresment of vehicles may be successful yet. the conscription of brains without goodwill and voluntary would be chaotic. They sincerely hoped that' wiser counsels would prevail and that further endeavours to interfere with their war effort would be stopped immediately."