HEALTH SCHEME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1938, Page 7

HEALTH SCHEME

, DUNEDIN DOCTORS URGE REFERENDUM . FOLLOWING ON BROADCAST DISCUSSION READY TO ACCEPT DECISION OF PEOPLE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ; li . •!,DUNEDIN, y October 19.’ Among a majority of members of the medical profession in Dunedin there is a feeling that before the Government’s national health scheme’ is brought into operation, the people of New Zealand should be made more widely acquainted with its provisions and that they should learn fully the opinions of the provisions held by those who will be as vitally affected as anyone—the medical men themselves. It is thought that if both sides of the question were put to them, taxpayers might then indicate by a referendum whether they really want the scheme in its present form or not. Commenting on the scheme, one of Dunedin’s leading practitioners said the Prime Minister should be requested to allow members of the profession from different centres to broadcast on alternate nights for a month their views of the scheme, while on other nights Mr Savage, or such members of the Government as he might nominate, could put forward the Government’s case. “By this means,” the practitioner suggested, “people would become fully conversant with every aspect of the scheme, both from our point of view and that of the Government. After the month is up, we suggest that a referendum be taken, and if the people say that they are in favour of the scheme as it stands, we shall abide by their decision. If, however, the vote is in our favour, we shall fight to the last ditch.

“I would emphasise,” he added, “that we desire a referendum taken only on the health scheme—not on the Social Security Act as a whole.”