Labour’s Health Policy

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30213, 19 August 1963, Page 10

Labour’s Health Policy

(NJt Press Association) HASTINGS, August 18. The Labour Party intended to review the scale of payments to doctors if it became the Government, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nordmeyer) in Hastings last night He said Labour planned to enwre that the public got a free medical service, which it paid for. The basic fee of 7s 6d was fixed in consultation with the medical profession, but now doctors were charging additional fees ranging from 2s 6d to 7s 6d a consultation. “Very few people are

really getting a free medical service,*’ he said. Mr Nordmeyer added that he was not at all sure hospitals were functioning in the way in which they were intended. They were doing a good job. but he doubted if they were providing all the services they should There was room for improvement Mr Nordmeyer said the control of finance should remain In the hands of the people and those making profit through the use of public credit should be curbed. It was wrong that banks and other financial institutions should take more than their share from the peop’e >f New Zealand through extortionate interest rates He said that some stock firms were charging 7} per cent Interest for overdraft accommodation. It was not reasonable to expect a man to pay at that

rate and also to meet other commitments. In the hire-purchase field buyers were paying interest at rates up to 18 and 20 per cent "I believe that hire purchase is legitimate business and plays an important part in the community; but no-one has the right to receive 18 or 20 per cent interest in such schemes,” said Mr Nordmeyer: It was Labour’s policy to reduce interest rates. Political labour and industrial labour were doser together today than ever in the past. Mr Nordmeyer said There was greater unanimity if thought between the two branches of the Labour movement than previously The actions of the present Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) showed the need for a government that would pay due attention to the industrial needs of the country.