VIEWS HELD BY DOCTORS

Southland Times, Issue 23538, 18 June 1938, Page 8

VIEWS HELD BY DOCTORS

HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME “QUESTION OF STRIKING NOT CONSIDERED’’ (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 17. “Dr D. G. McMillan M.P., is saying something he has no right at all to say when he states that doctors in New Zealand have definitely stated that they would not go on strike if the health insurance scheme is introduced,” said Dr Frank Macky, president of the Auckland division of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association, in answer to a statement by Dr McMillan when giving an address at Taupo on Wednesday night When giving evidence on the Government’s scheme on behalf of the New Zealand doctors, stated Dr Macky, Dr P. S. Jamieson, president of the New Zealand Branch of the B.M.A. had stated in answer to a question by one of the Government officers present whether doctors would go on strike, that doctors considered the scheme so unsatisfactory and so unlikely to be proceeded with that the question of going on strike had never been considered Dr Macky thought the question had been put by one of the Cabinet Ministers. . “New Zealand doctors,’ said Dr Macky, “have not committed themselves one way or another. Therefore it is quite wrong for Dr McMillan to state that we have agreed not to go on strike. We have never agreed to work with the Government on the scheme because we have not considered that aspect of the matter.”