HEALTH INSURANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 251, 23 October 1935, Page 9

HEALTH INSURANCE.

LABOUR PARTY'S SCHEME. PROPOSALS ENUMERATED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. A - full explanation of Labour's policy, including replies to criticism regarding tho party's guaranteed price scheme, waf given 'by Mr. W. Nash, M.P., national president, in addressing a packed audience at the Civic Theatre last evening. The Mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, presided, and also on the platform were Messrs. C. A. Barrell and VV. LeeMartin, the Labour candidates for •Hamilton and Raglan respectively.

. Dealing with the party's proposals for a national health insurance scheme, Mr. Nash said Labour pledged itself to work in co-operation with friendly societies to institute a service to provide the following facilities: —(1) To give every citizen the right during ill-health to call a doctor; (2) to give every citizen the right to consult and receive the services of specialists; (3) to provide all drugs, medicines, surgical and optical supplies necessary for tho restoration and maintenance of health; (4) to arrange for the reorganisation of the hospital system and to provide for maternity nursing and other necessary treatment; (5) to supply all dental services and requirements; (0) to extend the home nursing service to provide necessary attention to mothers. Mr. Nash added that the plan would provide for laboratory services, and the, payment of recognised fees to. medical practitioners. It, was reasonably certain that every possible requirement could.be pro , -' ' vided at a/cost of less .than 1/ per week per person, and the Labour party would provide a subsidy to ensure that the services mentioned would be available to every family. 'Disease; he said? represented not only human suffering but its waste,' and its prevention cure was in the interests of both individual and nation. ,

XAIPARA ELECTORATE.

' ME. GAUGHLEY'S CAMPAIGN. , (From Our Own Correspondent.) PAPAROA, Tuesday. Proposals of the, Democrat party were detailed by Mr. J. Caughley, the party's" candidate for Kaipara, in an address last evening. The party, he said, stood for an overhaul of the taxation system; to place the burden on shoulders best able to bear it; for an investigation of bank credit conditions, to place the control of credit in the hands of the people; and for assistance to the farmers by a direct subsidy, as against the wasteful method of assistance by raising the rate of exchange, which has cost £30,000,000 to provide farmers with £22,500,000. He challenged the member for Kaipara to debate the figures with him with three accountants present. The candidate said he would vote against the Government on any no-con-fidence motion, but would not support the Labour party as a Government. Commenting on the licensing issue, Mr. Caughley said he would support a bare majority retention clause, State purchase and control, the removal of licenses from out-of-tho-way places to main roads and centres of population, but with the proviso that residents in the area concerned should have a vote on the matter before an hotel was placed in their midst.

ROSKILL SEAT.

ME'. POTTER TO STAND. Mr Vivian H. Potter announced, this afternoon that it was his definite intention to stand for Roskill as an Independent candidate. "I want to make it clear that I did not put my name in, or go to a ballot, with the National Government party," said Mr. Potter. "I will give my. reasons at a public meeting at an early date. , " - The old electorate of Roskill—part of which is now in Eden-was represented by Mr. Potter from 1919 till' 1928. In the: latter year Mr. Potter, who was a member of the Reform party, was unseated by Mr. A. J. Stallworthy, the present member for E4on. Mr. Potter offered himself for re-election in 1931, but was defeated.