SOCIAL SECURITY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 12

SOCIAL SECURITY

Medical And Outpatient Schemes GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO PROCEED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May C. The intention of the Government to proceed with the free medical practitioner service and free outpatient hospital scheme under the Social- Security Act was announced by the Prime Minister when addressing a meeting at Ponsonby tonight in support, of the official Labour Party candidate for Auckland West, Mr. P. Carr. “It is the Government’s policy to bring tlie whole of the benefits provided in the Act into operation,” Mr. Fraser said. He referred to criticism that had occurred because all the benefits were not introduced immediately and quoted from the Act the clause concerning the introduction of benefits, at the earliest possible date on which effective arrangements for tlieir , administration could be brought into operation. After paying tribute to the work of the medical profession in peace and war, Mr. Fraser said he was anxious that the profession should co-operate with the Government in providing the most efficient medical service for the people of the Dominion. He traced the history of the negotiations with, the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association and said that in February he asked the association to enter on discussions with a view to the inauguration of the practitioner service in as fair and comprehensive a manner as possible. The reply given by representatives of the association was that they could not see their way to enter on the suggested negotiations. Mr. Fraser continued: “They stated further in the most courteous fashion, that the absence from practice of many of their members, who had joined the expeditionary force, had thrown a very heavy extra burden on the rest of them, and accordingly they had considered the time most inopportune for even discussion of the matter. I then indicated that such a reply could not be accepted by the Government, which was authorized by a large majority of the people to proceed with the scheme and which was pledged to do so.” Mr. Fraser expressed the hope that the matter could be settled at a round table discussion. He said, however, that the Health Department had been instructed to prepare details of both the free medical practitioner service and the free outpatient scheme. As soon as it was possible to start the free outpatient service at hospitals it would, be done. The Prime Minister arrived from Wellington today and opened the Auckland West by-election campaign tonight. He will address Labour Party members in Grey Lynn tomorrow night. He will return to Wellington on Wednesday by air.