COSTLY BENEFITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 8

COSTLY BENEFITS.

DOMINION'S HEALTH.

MODIFICATION PREDICTED. EXPERIENCE IN TASMANIA. Modification of New Zealand's health scheme, owinjr to the heavy cost which will be involved in providing the benefits, is regarded in Australia as a probable development, according to Mr. R. J. Terry, dietitian, of Auckland, who arrived by the Aorangi this morning after a visit to the Commonwealth.

In Tasmania, where a health scheme on a less- elaborate scale than in New Zealand had been introduced, changes were found necessary, after a brief trial, to reduce the cost, stated Mr. Terry, and still further changes might have "to be made. To do all that was originally intended would have cost more than the Government could afford," he said. The situation was generally considered to be comparable with that which existed in New Zealand at the present time. While the aima of Mr. Savage and his Ministers were viewed with approval it was thought that too much was being attempted.

One of the difficulties predicted, he said, was that people would be encouraged by the generosity of the New Zea land system to demand medicines «i J medical and hospital services on • • excessive scale, and a large additim amount would have to be spent in tln-s. directions. This was not only the vkof observant laymen, but also of p> fessional men. "The Tasmanian scheme has been ■ down to such an extent since it v first brought into operation that appears likely to resolve itself into limited system for the assistance of tl poor in the towns and the settlers i: the outer parts of the country districts." iJr. Terry remarked. "That is considered to be all that is essential. -.