TASMANIA’S PREMIER

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 400, 6 April 1937, Page 3

TASMANIA’S PREMIER

STATE UNDER LABOUR. New Health Scheme Outlined. Interesting observations concerning Australian affairs generally and conditions in Tasmania under the Labour Government .v.'dre made at Auckland by the Hon. A. G. Ogilvie, Premier □f Tasmania (without portfolio), who was a through passenger by the Mariposa from Sydney. Mr Ogilvie, who is a K.C., also furnished details of the recently instituted national health scheme in Tasmania, and spoke of the interest which is displayed by Commonmealth people in the legislation enacted by the New Zealand Labour Government. He is bound for London to attend the Coronation celebrations and the subsequent Premiers’ conference and later will tour the Last Vi,th the object of developing Tasmania’s export trade.

Leader of the Labour Party in Tasmania since 1929, Mr Ogilvie became Premier in 193 4, when he w r as able to form a Government with the assistance of a Social Credit member. This gave a slendet balance of power, but the Government succeeded in holding office for two years and a half. Mr Ogilvie vent to the country again in February last, when in a House of 30 members his party gained a majority of six members. 'Prior to the election,” said Mr Ogilvie, “I altered the duration of Parliament from three years to five years by means of amending the Constitution, being confident of the result of the election.” Surplus This Year. Financial conditions in Tasmania were quite satisfactory, eaid Mr Ogilvie, and this year the country would finish up wi.h a surplus—the first for nine yee.rs. "We will have a very small surplus,” he added, "but the fact that it is ia surplus is remarkable, as we have not refrained from spending and have put in hand an extensive p iblic works programme. This 1 work includes the development of a hydro-electric scheme at a cost of £1,500,000. The scheme has kept 1500 met continuously engaged for the past three years, and will furnish Tasmania With. an additional 105,000 horsepower.” In common with the other Australian States, Tasmania had imposed a wages tax, but the tax had been abolished last year, so far as it related to all wages below the level of the basic wage, which stood at £3/9/2, Salaries v Glich had been cut during the depression had been restored and the Government had gone in for all sorts of expenditure. Two new hospitals, one at Hobart and another at Launceston, were to be built at a cost of £lOO,OOO each. Efforts were being made to develop the tourist traffic by the erection of accommodation houses and roads giving access, to the lakes and mountains. By utilising “dole labour” a road had been constructed to th& top of Mount Wellington, which overlooked the city of Hobart. The road was a “top gear” one, and it was possible to reach the summit of the mount within half an hour of leaving the post office at Hobart. For Rich and Poor Alike. The Government had instituted a national health scheme, the first step in TMhich would be the appointment of doctors in remote areas, explained Mr Ogilvie. The appointments would be made in the same way as taechers. of State schools were appointed, the doctors would really be civil servants, and their services would be available to rich and poor alike. Applications for doctors were being called at the moment, and it was the intention of the Government to give preference to Tasmanian medical men. Failing Tasmanians not being available, British doctors would be chosen but, if necessary, doctors would be got from elsewhere. Th© doctors’ sei vices would bo made available without fee but, while at present they would only operate in districts where there were no doctors, .th© idea was ultimately to make doctors available under -the scheme all over the State. The doctors at the outset would he assembled at Hobart and Launces'on for a refresher course and, apart from curing diseases, they Would be encouraged to use their efforts for the prevention of disease. The scheme was being launched- as an experiment, but it was proposed to allot £lO,OOO a year for the salaries of the medical men at the outset. As more doctors were appointed, so would the cost of salaries increase. The doctors would also take over the supervision of the health of the children in State schools. The education of the people was a State responsibility, -and if was proposed io provide a medical service from the State funds. In Tasmania 95 per cent, of the population availed ’.hemselves of the State education system, said Mr Ogilvie, and the expenditure on health was only ;a quarter of that ou

education. In the future the Tasmanian Government Would' spend more on health, as it was considered that the giving of attenion to health was one of the first duties of any Government, and particularly of a Labour Government. Questioned as to Tasmania’s intentions with respect to a national superannuation scheme, Mr Ogilvie said that Tasmania was one of the Australian States which regarded the matter as a Federal Government obligation. Inquiries were supposed to be in hand into national insurance, but Mr Ogilvie expressed the view that that, was only a “stunt” in view of the Federal elections towards the end of the year, “We are only one of the States in Australia which are watching with interest and sympathy the efforts oi the New Zealand Government with regard to its social and financial legislation,” concluded Mr Ogilvie.