DOCTORS AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 18 November 1913, Page 4

DOCTORS AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The friendly societies of New South Wales are at loggerheads with the doctors. Concerning the dispute, the Australasian says: "It is all.a question of pay. The medicos want lrgh-

er foes—the increased cost of living again. As they belong to one of the strongest of ail unions—the British Medical Association—they would seem to have their 'employers' at their mercy. They have given in their ultimatum, and there is a prospect of one of the most novel strikes on record. The societies are resisting the demands, on the ground that they are excessive. The doctors declare that they are sweated, and underpaid, and have stood if long enough. They have rejected the offer of the societies to meet them half-way—the full dose is proscribed. In their dilemma the societies talk of importing doctors from abroad—a. desperate, if not despairing, alternative.--. The position of some of the lodges is unfortunate. There are poor societies which' cannot afford to pay the higher fees demanded ; others that can. By rejecting the demands of the British Medical Association the societies will he thrown back on a class of practitioner with whom British Medical Association men will not associate. The British Medical Association represents the highest standard of efficiency in tne healing art. It is jealous of its privileges and the honour of the profession. The threatened rupture of relations is on© the public generally is by no means indifferent to, since it concerns the physical well-being of a very large section of the community."