CONFERENCE ON MAY 29

Southland Times, Issue 23823, 22 May 1939, Page 6

CONFERENCE ON MAY 29

MINISTER AGREES TO MEET DOCTORS

“CASH BENEFIT” PROPOSAL

ACCEPTABLE

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 20. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), in accordance with the request of the Minister of Health (tiie Hon. P. Fraser) made available for publication today Mr Fraser’s reply to the British Medical Association letter of May 15. ' Mr Fraser says that in accordance with the suggestion, he will be prepared to meet British Medical Association representatives on May 29 at a time to be arranged, with a view to discussing medical services in relation to maternity benefits. Because of his absence from Wellington, Mr Fraser regrets that he is unable to name an earlier date. In order to facilitate the discussions, he will be pleased to have a statement setting out in what particular respect the B.M.A. Committee regards as unsatisfactory the terms and conditions of contract offered to the medical practitioners. He would like it to be clearly understood that he did not, of course, accept the conclusions expressed in the B.M.A. letter, but it would assist matters so far as the B.M.A. was concerned. Mr Fraser is agreeable that, pending his return to Wellington, representatives of the association commence discussions with Dr D. G. McMillan and Mr von Keisenberg. The acting Direc-tor-General of Health (Dr R. A. Shore) was, he understood, not returning to Wellington until May 23, when he would be available to take part in the discussions.

Mr Savage stated that the Government’s immediate concern was to see the benefits in full operation as soon as possible. It was obviously necessary, he said, that the association should indicate the particular respects in which it regards as unsatisfactory the conditions of contract and the regulations. He was quite sure that if any complaint of onerous or unreasonable provisions could be substantiated the Minister would make the necessary modifications.

On the other hand, it would no doubt be recognized by the association that a proposal merely for payment from the fund of a cash benefit to the patient without regard to the adequacy of the services afforded by the doctor and giving him entire liberty to charge any additional fees he liked, would be quite at variance with the Government’s objective.