DOCTORS ON STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 5

DOCTORS ON STRIKE.

INSURANCE BILL BOYCOTT. By Tetesraph—Pre3s Association—Copyright By i'olesrarh—Prass'AsKool.itlon—Conyridht London, December 21. The' doclors who aro opposing the Insurance Bill aro raising a guarantee fund of ■£500,000 amongst members of the profession, to provido against loss, so a-i to make the boycott of the Act possible evou in districts where the organisation of doctors is weakest. AN AMENDING BILL. (Rec. December 22, 9.10 p.m.) London, December 22. Mr. W. J. Gulland, Liberal M.P. for Dumfries Burghs, in speaking on behalf of tho Liberal candidate at the Govan byelection, declared that the Insurance Act might coil tain small grievances or flaws, but an amending Bill would probably be introduced in 1912 to remedy any defects which developed in the practical working of tho measure. i THE OBJECTIONS TO THE BILL, the British Modie.il Association asked Jor an income limit, of ,£2 a week for 1 h°se on titled to medical benefit" under the Insurance Bill. A= it .stands, Iho Act I,rings within its scopo by compulsion D\ery manual worker, whatever his wage, find every other worker (such as a clerk or a governess) whoso annual wage does not exceed ,£l6O a year, and it allows ® J cry worker above that salary and however large his salary may be to enter as a voluntary subscriber, provided that he pays the employer's contribution as well ns his o',vn. A recent memorial by the association Vi'Sed (hat tho provisions of tho Bill would, ,f carried into law, most gravely i f i existing means of livelihood and future prospects of the great majority of members of tho medical profession in the United Kingdom, and would directly and immediately affect all existing arrangements for tho medical provision ol approximately one-third of the population in the United Kingdom. It ?rli r ?, ut that F° Tision «ade in tho Jml for tbo extension of medical benefits to the wives, families, ,ijk! dependents feneraUy of tho insured, made possible the inclusion .of tits greater part of the population. There are.; according to the "Dailv ' . nbbut 32,000 qualified medical practitioners in the United Kingdom, of whom about 7000 are consultants, or-'spe-cialists, or in full-time appointments. •ih.it .leases abont 25,000 general practitioners. Of that number about 19,000 some months ago expressed a general approval of the efforts of tho British Medical Association to secure better terms ot service than are provided by tho National Insurance Bill, and the following pledge was being widelv signed:J, tho undersigned, hereby undertake ! ' Vtui v? ° vc " ol i '-h® National Insurance Bill becoming law I will not enter agreement for giving medical attendance <iiul treatment to persons inshrn K Wl excepting such ns shall be satisfactory to tho medical profession and in accordance with the declared policy of the British Medical A ■sedation; and that I win-enter-into such agreement only through a local, Medical Committee, renre.centativo of the medical profession in the district in which I practice, and will not enter into anv individual or separate agree.nenfc with anv approved society or other body for the treatment of such persons.