MEDICAL BENEFIT SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 10

MEDICAL BENEFIT SCHEME

FARMERS’ UNION PROPOSALS INDEPENDENT GOVERNING BODY I ■ 1 ■ '■ I Suggestions that an _ independent board consisting of a majority of debtors, with representatives of hospital boards, farmers, workers, and the Government should be set up, and ■ that friendly societies should continue functioning as an integral part of the scheme, were embodied m a statement from the Dominion executive on the Social Security Amendment Bill, received at a meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Farmers’ Union yesterattitude of the executive was that the financial and administrative sides of the social security scheme should be complete in themselves and the governing body should be free from State control. A compulsory levy on all persons was favoured, but it was stated that the free choice of doctors by patients should be _ permitted. Under the proposed legislation, a doctor could not attend a sick person except under State control, and the extension of this system would make all people “State serfs,” the statement said. It was decided to support the views set out and the steps taken by the Dominion executive. RAILWAY WORKERS SUPPORT BILL (F.0.0.R.) OAMARU, September 26. The Oamaru branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants at its monthly meeting passed a resolution approving of the Spcial Security Amendment Bill, considering that the Government had done everything possible to meet the wishes of the medical profession compatible with the provision of free medical services. Regret was also expressed, That doctors through the British Medical Association were allowing themselves to be used as a political weapon to further the interests of a political party.” '