BACKING FOR SOCIETY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29220, 2 June 1960, Page 2

BACKING FOR SOCIETY

Views Of Mr N.G. Pickering , B “ c king for the Plunket Society m its battle against the Health Department s “take-over bid” is given by the Government mem- °£ Bement for St. Albans (Mr N. G. Pickering). Mr Pickering, approached yesterday, said he had written to the Minister of Health (Mr Mason) and asked whether the Government intended to take any action on the recommendations made in the Finlay report. “There is no doubt where 1 stand. I support the Finlay report,” he replied when asked for his personal view.

The report was the result of an independent inquiry into the Plunket Society. The consultative committee, under the chairmanship of Sir George Finlay, was set up by the Cabinet and its report was published at the end of last year. Although it was realised that some of the suggestions made in the Finlay Report would entail sacrifice for the society, the society’s Dominion council (at a meeting in February) unanimously resolved to accept the report in its entirety. The society claims the Health Department is prepared to accept “only those points in the report which coincide with departmental views, and has rejected recommendations on vital issues with which it does not agree.” “If the department’s rulings on these vital matters are final, the proceedings of the committee are reduced to a costly travesty,” says Mrs J. M. Ryburn (Dominion president of the Society) in a letter to individual members of Parliament.

As an insurance against future stalemates between the department and the society, the Finlay Report recommends a Child Health Council to enable problems to be considered by an independent authority. The department. wishes to relegate the council to the position of a subcommittee on the Board of Health.

The society’s view is that as six of the eight professional voices on the Board of Health are those of departmental officers, and as the board has absolute control over all its sub-commit-tees, the department’s suggestion is not at all in line with the recommendations of the Finlay Report The society has now begun organising support for its efforts to maintain independence. Deputations will be made to all members of Parliament prepared to receive them and this week representatives called on Mr Pickering. Other meetings will follow.

Mr Pickering’s deputation was led by Mrs F. G. K. Gilchrist, of the St Albans sub-branch. Accompanying Mrs Gilchrist, were representatives of the Shirley and Papanui-Merivale sub-branches.

“The deputation wanted to know where the Government stood. I told them I did not know but I would write to the Minister of Health to see if I could ascertain the Government’s view on the matter and ask if any action will be taken on the Finlay Report,” Mr Pickering said yesterday.