NEW CABINET AT WORK

Chronicle (Levin), 20 December 1949, Page 5

NEW CABINET AT WORK

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter.

Early Discussion Of Health •Scheme Planned

Copyriaht )

Received Tuesday, 10.55 a.m. CANBERRA, Dec. 20. After the new Cabinet had been sworn in by the Governor-General, Mr. W. G. McKell, yesterday, most Ministers commenced work. The Minister of Health, Sir Earle Page, issued telegrams calling conferences "df doctors,' dentists, chemists and others- to discuss the new Government's health plans early next month. He said that the Government's immediate policy was to seeure the best and continually improving treatment for the sick and to bring the eost of that treatment well within the means of all patients — in certain respects to. make it absolutely free. The Government would try to get the cooperation of all organisations dealing with health, especially those on a voluntary basis, and so ensure the least red- tape and ofiicial interference. He planned to present as soon as Parliament met legislation to carry into effect the Govemment's immediate policy. The long-range policy on hational health was to decentralise to the maximum the administration of all Commonwealth-assisted health services, said Sir Earle. He had asked the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, to arrange as early as possible consultations with the State Ministers of Health to work out a policy of full co-operation between the Commonwealth and States which would eliminate duplication and proviae the machinery for continuous consultation. The general secretary of the British Medical Association, Dr. J. G. Hunter, said' that medical men would be ready to offer their views.