WHY CHANGES WERE MADE

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

WHY CHANGES WERE MADE

Social Security Bill OPPOSITION’S CLAIM DISPUTED A claim by the Leader of the Opposition that pressure from the Opposition had resulted in the Government giving way on seven of the eight objections made to the original provisions of the Social Security Amendment Bill was disputed by the Minister of Finance, Mt. Nash. Mr. Holland said the Opposition amendment of September 11 was withdrawn because the Opposition's fight had succeeded. After reading the amendment, Mr. Nash described Mr. Holland’s claim as plain, simple, unadulterated humbug. “We have not fought this Bill, Mr. Holland said. “What we have fought tenaciously were certain provisions ot the Bilk We have expressed ourselves in clear terms and what is more m our fight we have succeeded. (Government laughter.) Mr. Carr (Government, Timaru). You have turned a somersault. “The Bill as introduced represented Government policy after six years o thinking and planning,” continued Mr. Holland- “The amended Bill represented the Opposition’s views. No one could say that the Government put these in because it wanted to. It was only after the Opposition directed public attention that the Government decided to put these amendments into the Bill. We asked for eight major concessions or alterations in the Bill ■and seven have beeu complied, with, That is the explanation why it is no longer necessary to proceed with the amendment urging the Government to postpone the operation till after the war.” The first objection was that the Bill set out to Socialize the medical profession, Mr. Holland sa id. The amendment removed the objection to compulsion and Socialization; the doctors could come in or stay out. The Government had given way on the second objection that private practice was made unlawful. ' „ , The Minister for Health, Mr. Nordmeyer : How do you define private practice? Mr. Holland: A contract between patient and doctor and the right to collect the fee. The amendment by the Minister makes private practice permissible and gives doctors the right to make private contracts. The third objection was that doctors who were soldiers could only come back as State employees. The Government has weighed the Opposition evidence and sustained the objection. “Government Gave Way.”

Mr. Holland said the fourth objection was to the clause making it unlawful for a doctor to receive more than the amount stated by law. The Opposition fought for the right of doctors to receive any additional payment the patient cared to make and the Government had given way. The fifth objection was that the Bill originally fixed the fees for doctors toy statute, continued Mr. Holland. That objection was also sustained. The sixth objection was to the writing into the Bill of a flat rate for payment. The Government had given way and given overtime for night work. The seventh objection was that a deadly blow was struck at the friendly societies. The Minister had introduced an amendment providing that services by the societies could be a charge on the fund. “The Bill is now in the main acceptable to the Opposition,” said Mr. Hol land. “There are one or two provisions in the Bill about which we are I not completely contented, but when the Government gives way on seven out, of eight propositions we are satisfied.” The Bill, Mr. Holland said, was still I deficient in one or two senses. He be- | lieved the service would deteriorate. I The difference in views was that the

Opposition preferred to give a free and full medical service now to those who were in need of it and could not afford it. The Government offered a partial service. Mr. Nash replied that the Opposition had not given one reason to justify its withdrawal of the amendment. The Opposition was afraid of public opinion, and if in power would vote the Bill out tomorrow. The Leader of the Opposition had dodged, squirmed and run under his seat when the Prime Minister had asked whether he was-in favour of free medical service for all the people. Mr. Nash said that when the Minister of Health reported that the doctors asked that certain clauses should be taken out of the Bill, the Prime Minister said, “If we can get the doctors to work let us do it.” And that was done. The point to be emphasized was that a free general service was available to everybody in the Dominion and the State would pay. To say the service would deteriorate was humbug.