Ombudsman 'A Tribunal’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32308, 28 May 1970, Page 26

Ombudsman 'A Tribunal’

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 27. The Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles) told the Royal Commission on Social Security today that he had in effect acted as a social security appeals tribunal for the last eight years.

Between the establishment of the office of the Ombudsman on October 1, 1962, and March 31 of this year 716 complaints against decisions had been received. Sir Guy Powles said. It seemed to him that the Social Security Commission interpreted the provisions on Ministerial control and powers of direction in a manner which wrongly fettered the commission’s discretion in the exercise of certain powers.

A doctor should be able to charge a fee commensurate with the service given and the State should not pay the total fee, submitted the Wellington division of the Medical Association of New Zealand:

In one of the briefest submissions before the commission the association’s representatives, Dr M. Mac Kay, Dr W. J. Treadwell and Mr R. Elliot, said the association believed the State should pay about 75 per cent of the average fee, except for persons over 65 and under 15 years of age, for whom 90 per cent should be paid by the Government The commission was told by the National Council of Women that while the council was not asking for lavish increases in monetary benefits, it was aware of certain areas of special need where greater income exemption would

help these who could not work.

“In general we support the principle that the social security system is a form of insurance towards which all those in receipt of income have compulsorily to pay. All should benefit This will mean, however, that the healthy will be helping to pay for treatment for the sick, the rich for living expense for the poor and the single for the upkeep of other people’s children." A complex of rooms, bedsitters and flats, with a dining hall and ’full-time creche, should be provided by the Government for self supporting mothers in the main centres, it was suggested by New Zealand University Students’ Association.

“Some private organisations already go in for this in a small way and it is felt that grants or incentives to these groups could help,” said Miss McLean.