As to the medical profession, Mr. Masterman preferred to postpone
any statement till next week. He, however, assured the House that the Commissioners would do all they could to evoke the sympathy of the profession. The alternative steps which the Commissioners were entitled to take under the Act would only be taken when all other means bad failed. From this we may argue that the Government are still hugging the delusion that the doctors do not and never have meant busi- ness. In resisting the demand for the postponement of the operation of the Act, Mr. Masterman pointed out that the Act, as a whole, would not come into effective force until next January. Nine-tenths of the regulations and four.fifthe of the work of the Insurance Committees would not be in the least affected if the measure came into operation on July 15th. All that it would be absolutely necessary for the Commis- sioners to do by the appointed day would be to make arrangements for the collection of contributions and for the administration of sanatorium benefits. In the end, and after the closure had been moved, the postponement resolution was rejected by a majority of 58 (205-147).
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