FREE SERVICE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 134, 7 May 1940, Page 7

FREE SERVICE.

OVERTURES TO DOCTORS.

BALA. STILL ADAAIANI

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Alav tv The intention of the Government to proceed with the free medical practitioner service and free out-patient nospital scheme under the Social. Securi-y Act was announced by the 1 rime Alinister (Hou. P. Fraser) when address in.r a- meeting at Ponsonby to-night in support of the official Labour candidate for Auckland A\ est (Air I. CU “it is the Government’s policy to bring the whole of the benefits I> ed in the Act into operation, Air Fraser said. He referred to criticism that had occurred because all tne benefits were not introduced immediately, and quoted from the Act the clause concerning the introduction • benefits at the earliest possible date on which effective arrangements fortheir administration could be brought into operation. ' , After paying a tribute to the voik of the t 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 " n New Zealand branch oh the Bntish 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 bv the representatives of the'association was that they could not see their way to enter on the suggested negotiations,. Mr Ti a continued. ,“They stated further in the most courteous fasli'ou that absence from practice of mapy of their memhers who had joined.’the Expeditionary Force had* thrown a very heavy extra burden on the rest,;ot them and, accordingly, they had considered the time most inopportune for even a discussion on the matter. I then in i ed that such a replv could not lie accepted bv the Government, which was authorised bv a large majority of the people to proceed with the scheme and which was pledged to do so- , Mr Eraser ex messed tho hope tnat the matter could be settled at a round table dismission. He said, however, that the Health Department had been instructed to prepare details of both a free medical practitioner service and a free out-patient scheme. As- soon as it was possible to start the free outpatient service at the hospitals it would be done.