MEMORABLE BATTLE ENDS IN SPIRIT OF GOODWILL

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 8, 4 October 1941, Page 11

MEMORABLE BATTLE ENDS IN SPIRIT OF GOODWILL

The Social Security Amendment Bill, providing a universal general medical practitioner service, was passed early yesterday afternoon by the House of Representatives. During the committee stage important concessions'concerning both the Bill and health services generally were sought. The Government promised in some instances to give effect to these proposals and in other cases to consider them. The Bill was passed without a division. . . , The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, claimed, when the committee stage was begun, that the Opposition had achieved seven of its eight objectives in opposing clauses in the Bill, which was now, in the main, acceptable to the Opposition. . . Important announcements made by Ministers during the final stages of the debate were: The drafting of regulations to penalize patients who consulted doctors unnecessarily; the revision of the free. pharmacy list to include the sulphanilamide group and liver preparations; consideration of granting doctors the right to go to the courts to recover fees; future consideration of abolishing the limit of 20 miles for attendance bv doctors without mileage charge to the patient; and regulations to be issued for providing payment of night rates for Sunday work. A memorable battle, ended in a spirit of goodwill all round the House and assurances by the Prime Minister of the Government s desire to meet the doctors in every way possible to ensure the smooth working of the scheme. • . . The Mining Amendment Bill and the Coalmines Amendment Bill were read a second time, put through the committee stages and passed in short time. . . Mr. Fraser said he expected the session to end next week. The House rose at 4.15. p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.