COUNTRY'S MEDICAL SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 September 1917, Page 7

COUNTRY'S MEDICAL SERVICE.

AN ALARMING SHORTAGE. WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. Mr, Wilkinson asked to-day what the Government intended to do to make, up the alarming shortage of medical men in the country districts, owing to the demands of the military medical service. The Hon. G. W. Russell answered the member that the matter had received careful consideration. He admitted that the position in some districts had become so serious that it could not be allowed to .eonUmje. Efforts 'had been made to arrange with the British Medical Association for an agreement as to terms of legislation, and a bill had been prepared and was ready to submission to the Cabinet dealing with the question. He did not know' whether it would be possible" to get the agreement of the British Medical Association, which desired that any conscription which took place should be under the defence department. In'hiss opift* ion an attitude of that sort for the purpose of dealing with civilian ser- ! vice w'as impracticable. He hoped, however, that in the course of the coming week a bill w r ould be placed before the House, and then members would sec that every attempt w r as being made to supply medical men for those districts which had been depleted.