DANGERS IN SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1937, Page 12

DANGERS IN SCHEME

CLOSE WATCH NEEDED

FARMERS' UNION ATTITUDE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, June 8.

At the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union today the president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr. W. W. Mulholland, said the New Zealand union supported a scheme of national health insurance because it felt that such a scheme would improve the health of the community, remove constant anxiety from thousands of breadwinners, and tend to increase the happiness and also the economic value of the individual by removing one of the great deterrents to obtaining early medical advice in case of suspected trouble.

There- had been assurances that a Bill providing for a scheme would be brought down next session. The union would support the principle, but details would have to be watched very carefully. It could be enacted to increase or relieve very considerably charges on the community, The union's principle was that the individual should be responsible for the charges incidental to his insurance. There had to be personal contribution on the basis of personal income. Any other basis would necessarily mean increased charges and increased costs.

"The other big danger is that the scheme might be made to include a lot of frills, all benefits desirable enough, but not necessary," he- continued. "It is easy to overload a scheme of this type so that it becomes a burden on the community. It will have to be closely watched and the union intends to /j that and to give as much advice and assistance as it can."