EXTENDED DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1941, Page 4

EXTENDED DEBATE

ON AMENDED MEDICAL BILL BROAD-MINDED ATTITUDE URGED BY MR COATES. ADDITIONAL ITEMS PLACED ON ORDER PAPER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The debate on the Social Security Amendment Bill (the Doctors’ Bill) was continued in the House of Representatives during part of yesterday, afternoon and last night. In discussion! over the amendments which had been announced Labour members assured the House of the Government’s desire to pull with the medical profession. The Minister of Public Works, Mr Armstrong, lately Minister of Health, said that the reason for the amendments was that the Government wanted the co-operation of the doctors and also that certain people desired on religious or conscientious grounds (not himself, he added) to pay the doctor themselves—hence alternative provision in the method of payment. Mr Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo) denied that the National Party had espoused the doctors’ case merely because it was doctors who were concerned. It had fought the Bill on a point of principle, and the Government had had to give way. Mr Coates (a member of the War Cabinet) appealed for a broad approach to the issues outstanding between the Government and the B.M.A. ■‘For heaven's sake," he said, "don’t let us have any acrimony, and where a section believes it is being coerced let us try to get over this even if it means that some members have to accept something that is not entirely acceptable to them in theory." Murmurs of approval from both sides were heard as Mr Coates sat down. A new Mines Amendment Bill, introduced and read a second time pro forma, was declared by the Minister of Mines as being mostly machinery. The. Native Purposes Amendment Bill described by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, as the "same old annual Bill," made its appearance and was read a second time pro forma. In the afternoon an interesting discussion arose over the question of compensation of Home Guard members and Territorials who may be injured while travelling between home and parade ground or camp. The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, gave an assurance that the Government would “do what ought to be done.” The House rose at 10.30 p.m. till 2.30 this afternoon.