DOCTORS AND LODGES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2760, 2 May 1916, Page 7

DOCTORS AND LODGES

STILL NO AGREEMENT

NEW BASIS OF CHARCE PROPOSED. Tho dispute between the 1 Wellington doctors and the friendly societies is still unsettled. The lodge doctors have all resigned, and tliey have asked from the societies a rate per head of 245. per annum, instead of the old «ite of'lss: Both parties, first the societies, and then the put their different sides \of the case beforo the Minister oiS Public Health, and ho arranged a. conference of representatives of tlie two parties. At that conference, which was held a week or two ago, tho friendly societies agreed to accept all the conditions in the new agreement proposed by the doctors with the exception of the per capita rate. After a discussion lasting tkreo hours and a half,' the. friendly v society representatives agreed to recommend their bodies to agree to pay £1 per head, and the doctors reduced their demand to 21s. ,per head, the rate at which they had ■already signed up an agreement with three Oddfellows' Lodges in Wellington. As neither side would concede 'this shilling in dispute," tho conference proved abortive. Since then the Medical Association has, hold a special meeting to consider the matter, and the secretary has forwarded to the Minister a copy of resolutions passed by the meeting, to the effect that the • doctors decline. to accept less , than the amount stipulated, 21s. per member per annum until six montlis after the. declaration of peace. The doctors have resolved also that this offer is open only until May 11, and that if' it is -not accepted by this date tlrey will not do lodge work for less than 245. per member. The doctors agree, however/ to abide under any circumstances . by; their former offer to treat the wives and children of lodge members on active service at the old rate'of 15s. ' '

The Minister has written to the 8.>1.A. expressing regret that the doctors have not seen fit to give way on the small matter of Is. .in dispute. He also makes another proposal for the assessment of fees on a new basis. At the conference the doctors claimed that the rate of 15s. worked out at about tenpence per visit to lodge patients. ■ Mr. Russell asks whether the doctors would accept payment on a per-, visit basis, and if so at what rate per visit. He will make a similar suggestion to the.friendly societies. What is finally settled in Wellington may be "of importanfce' throughout the country, for'in an interview which the doctors had with the Minister, when it was pointed out that lower rate.'! than were being asked in Wellington were being accepted in other large towns, one of the doctors said that medical men in other centres were not at all satisfied with those rates, and were lookiug to Wellington".for a lead.