SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 6

SOCIAL SECURITY

STILL NEGOTIATING WITH DOCTORS HAPPY SETTLEMENT OF MATERNITY CONTRACT DIFFERENCES [FeOM Ora PAEUAMENTiKr EMOaiBR.] WELLINGTON, September 29. A, happy consummation of a very} difficult position, was Mr Fraser’s description in the House to-day of the clauses in the Social Security _ Bill incorporating an agreement ' with that medical profession for .acceptance ofi maternity contracts. The, medical _ profession had an objection-to individual contracts, and the arrangement complied with their requirements. “ What is being done ahbut the general practitioner service?” asked Mrj Forbes. The reply by Mr Fraser wa* that the doctors frankly objected. to it. Th*j Government proposed to open negotiations with them. “As in international! affairs,” he added, “it is better tot negotiate a settlement than to have ai war and negotiate the settlement afterwards, It is better to have a peaceful settlement provided no principle thati this House has decided on will he sacrificed.” ■ ’ . ■ Answering a question whether private mental hospitals are included in social security payments,; Mr Fraser; said only one such hospital at Dunedin, where patients got the • same amount as is paid the public mental hospitals. This will not be the full amount of the fee payable .for privat# treatment.