SOCIAL SECURITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 31, 16 November 1939, Page 2

SOCIAL SECURITY.

NEGOTIATIONS with doctors. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, November 15. ‘‘Negotiations between the Government and representatives of the medical profession for the establishment of a general practitioner service are still going on,” said the Acting-Minis-ter for Health (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) when asked to-night if he was in a position to indicate when the medical benefits under the Social Security Act wore likely to he available. It was unlikely, he added, that the negotiations would he completed until the return of the Minister for Health' (the Hon. iP. Fraser) from abroad. Mr Armstrong said it was clearly understood when the legislation was before Parliament and the country that the inauguration of the health sectionof the act would not he possible until satisfactory arrangements had been made with the parties which would have to provide the service. The maternity benefits, the mental patient benefits, hospital patient benefits, and sickness benefits were already in operation.

“I did not think when the law was passed that any greater progress would be possible than has actually been made,” said the Minister. “I think that those who have been handling this question on behalf of the Government are to be congratulated on the progress that has been made, much as one would like to see the whole scheme in operation.”