SOCIAL SECURITY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 249, 18 July 1942, Page 9

SOCIAL SECURITY

Farmers’ Disadvantages The disadvantages country people are under in respect of social security benefits were discussed by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union annual conference in Wellington this week. It was decided to draw the attention of the Minister of Health to the position and ask that a scheme be inaugurated whereby rural areas will be on a more equitable basis with city areas, such as travelling allowances, and district nurses able to give prescriptions; also that country doctors should have special days for country people. Mr. E. G. Hill, Rai Valley, instanced the case of a man who had to take his son 40 miles to Blenheim for attention. They had to wait so long at the doctor’s that the return service car was missed and an overnight stay was necessitated. This meant expense and the loss of two days’ work. Another man lost three weeks' benefit because the doctor did not send the necessary certificates to the Social Security Department. To adjust this- the man would have had to travel to town and spend in expenses most of the benefit to which he was entitled, as well as losing wages. A country resident wanted 6/- worth of medicine. To get it free he would have had to spend 17/travelling to town to get the medicine. Mr. E. C. Lawrence, Picton, said country people had to travel to doctors; city people had them just round the corner.