NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 279, 22 August 1944, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Health benefits under the Social Security Scheme, according to the annual report of the Health Department, reflect a rising seal-? of expenditure in all branches, as shown in the following figures, the previous year’s expenditure being given in parentheses: Maternity, £513.938 (£505,224): medical practitioner service, £1,175,121 (£1,016,052): hospital J’eneflts. £2,165,408 (£1,546,959); pharmaceutical supplies, £762,199 (£563.247) There is no doubt that much of the increase in the expenditure on benefits is due to needless calls by the public upon the services provided. That the Health Department itse’f is not unaware of this is indicated by the observation in the report, on the subject of pharmaceutical benefits, that “the number of prescriptions written is constantly increasing, and it is hard to resist the impression that many unnecessary bottles of medicine are prescribed.” What is needed is a more highly-developed sense of individual personal responsibility and concern on the part of the public to ensure that the scheme will not be weakened, its financial stability undeimined, by improper exploitation, a practice usually somewhat difficult to detect.

* * * ’ 4e It is apparent from information put before the Wellington City Council last Wednesday night that the position in respect to a number of city reserves which were temporarily taken over for military purposes is far from being satisfactory. When the Minister of Defence was approached two months or so ago, a general assurance was given to representatives of the council that there would be no undue delay in restoring areas no longer required for emergency purposes. At that time several reserves had actually been vacated, but nothing had been done to restore them and seemingly little has been done since. In the ease of Kelburn Park, for example, the military moved out early in January of this year, but no restoration of the area utilized has been undertaken. Another typical example is Central Park, Brooklyn, vacated more than three mouths ago. A few buildings have been removed, but about 100 remain. The position is similar on Melrose Park, Halaitai Park and the Miramar Polo Ground. In present circumstances it can hardly be pleaded that the authorities are preoccupied with more urgent matters, nor can It reasonably be said that Army labour and facilities for the removal of huts and general restoration work are unobtainable. The delay is difficult to comprehend and should be investigated by the Minister. Its continuance would constitute a definite breach of faith and a sorry return for the co-operation so willingly given by the city.