BENEFITS FOR MOTHERS

Southland Times, Issue 23816, 13 May 1939, Page 6

BENEFITS FOR MOTHERS

MATERNITY SECTION OF ACT DOCTORS’ PLEDGE TO ASSOCIATION MINISTER’S WARNING AGAINST BOYCOTT (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 12. The following statement about the maternity benefits under the Social Security Act was made tonight by the Minister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser): “The public will see from the long list of those willing to assist in extending the maternity benefits of the social security scheme to as many mothers as possible, which will appear in the advertisement columns tomorrow morning, that the maternity benefits have been successfully arranged for., The response from obstetric nurses has been in most districts highly satisfactory. If there are any nurses who have not completed their contracts they would be well advised to do so without delay so that they will be in time for the first supplementary list. “All public hospital maternity wards come into the maternity benefits of the scheme automatically, The large number .of private maternity hospitals which have contracted to provide hospital treatment under the maternity benefits ensures that beds will be available in most localities.. “As was anticipated, in view of tne official attitude of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, the response from the medical profession has not been satisfactory, although those agreeing to participate and generally co-operate in the operation of the maternity benefits, together with the doctors on the staffs of public maternity hospitals and the maternity wards of public hospitals, are sufficient to enable medical services for maternity benefits to be established in many districts. A number of doctors has signed contracts conditionally and although it has not been possible to complete these contracts in time for the first list every effort will be made to meet all reasonable wishes a. quickly as possible so that their names can appear on the supplementary list. DOCTORS’ PLEDGE “It has been represented to me that a considerable number of doctors, though they approve of the terms of the contract, feel bound by their pledge to their association, which they were induced to sign last year in entirely different circumstances. Conditions have altered considerably since the pledge was signed but these doctors feel bound by the pledge at least up to a point, in spite of their approval of the contract. It is to be sincerely hoped that this difficulty will be overcome by a reasonable attitude on the part of all concerned, “I have further been informed that some practitioners fear that if they sign the contract in accordance with their own wishes, opinions and consciences, they would run the risk of professional injury through deliberate non-co-operation on the part of their fellow practitioners. From my knowledge of the medical profession, I have no hesitation in stating my belief that neither the official organization nor any responsible section of the profession would stoop to such methods. If, a. is most unlikely, any irresponsible section or individual would be so misguided as to attempt any such retaliatory methods, then as soon as the attention of the Government was drawn to the fact steps would immediately be taken to combat such reprehensible action apd the full protection of the State would be extended to the pracitioner agains' whom such methods were used.

“Boycott, a weapon dangerous at all times and in all circumstances, would earn the reprobation of all decent people if applied in any form or under any pretext where the lives of mothers and babies were involved and possibly in danger.”

NOT ON LIST OF DOCTORS EXPLANATION GIVEN BY dr d. g. McMillan, m.p. (United Press Association) f DUNEDIN, May 12. An explanation why his name does not appear in the list of doctors prepared to administer maternity benefits from Monday was given. by Dr D. G. McMillan, M.P. for Dunedin West, in a statement. “As I have been working with the Minister of Health on details of the Health Service practically continuously since the middle of January/ and will be so for some months yet,” Dr McMillan said, “I am not at the present time in active practice. If I were I would certainly sign the contract. The scheme will not only make full service available to everybody, but will also, in my opinion, make conditions for doctors better than hitherto.”