FREE FOR ANIMALS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 6, 2 October 1941, Page 9

FREE FOR ANIMALS

Why Not For God’s Children? “If it is desirable that the animals of the field should have free medical attention, is it asking too much that God’s children should have it?” asked Mr. Meachen (Government, Marlborough) when referring to the free veterinary service for "hoi'ses, sheep, cows and pigs” introduced iu 1911, during bis speech on the Social Security Amendment Bill. Only by socialistic and co-operative effort could the tight against sickness and disease be wdu, said Mf. Meaclien. The Bill, which implemented the Government’s social security policy so admirably laid down by the late Mr. Savage, was a people’s Bill. They had already decided what they wanted, and they had every right to demand that for which they had voted. Almost 100 I>er cent, of the people stood for the scheme.* Criticism against the measure had been merely political. Mr. Meachen said he wanted the men returning from overseas to have every medical care as their right. In some parts of the Marlborough Sounds tbe cost of calling a doctor amounted to £l2. The rate charged by the B.M.A. was, be understood, £1 an hour. To those people aud others similarly situated iu the backblocks the Bill was going to be a Godsend.