SOCIAL SECURITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 246, 25 July 1940, Page 8

SOCIAL SECURITY.

ALLEGATION OF ANOMALIES.

PROTEST TN PARLIAMENT

(Per Press Association). YY ELLINGTON, July 24

Tn the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Social Security Department vote of £'5,150,000 and the Social Security Fund vote of £2,336,324 were discussed together. Mr S. G. Holland (National, Christchurch North), drew attention to what he described as anomalies in the operation of the legislation which, he said, were creating injustices. He instanced the case of a woman who was a complete invalid. Under the original Social Security Act she received an invalidity pension of 30s a week and being an inmate of a public hospital, received free hospital treatment. Immediately the Act was amended by bringing in free hospital treatment her pension was reduced from 30s a week to 30s a month. Mr Holland also drew attention to an item of £20,000 for the treatment of out-patients of hospitals. Did this vote mean, lie asked, that in future out-patients would receive free treatment?

The Hon. YY. E. Parry: No. but it will come as soon as possible.

Mr Holland said lie wished to enter an emphatic protest against outpatients having to pay for tlioir treat-' ment. Because a patient was able to sleep at homo and return to the hospital daily for treatment he bad to pay for that treatment. It was not fair, and it was never intended in law.

The Hon. H. T. Armstrong: This vote is to put that right.

The Hon. Adam Hamilton said ho understood that men serving in the military and naval forces were not -required to pay the Social Security charge, whereas tliosc' in the Air .Force had to pay.

Tne Hon. YY. Nash: The whole matter is under consideration now.

Mr Hamilton: That is all. right as long as it is being considered with a view to putting the whole thing on an equitable basis. Both votes were passed.