HEALTH SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1938, Page 6

HEALTH SCHEME

1 CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL

The view that it would not be possible for the Government to make; a success of its health scheme without the, co-operation and support df the British Medical Association was advanced by Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago). Referring to the speech of the* mover, Mr. Bodkin said thei:e was a great difference between the presentation of a case and the case itself. They should not think that a scheme was right because it was new, and they should not condemn a scheme because it was old. He thought Dr. McMillan's case would have been more convincing if he had analysed the position today rather than spend his whole time advocating what was undoubtedly to him a pet scheme.

■■; "Does it confer the benefits be helives it will?" asked Mr. Bpdkin. "I should think that the best judges Would be the members of the British Medical Association, and I would suggest that it will not be possible for the Government to make a success of its proposals unless it can get a hundred per cent, co-operation and support from the doctors." ••,'.'

'Mr. Bodkin said the Government should earnestly consider whether it should scrap the present system in favour of the" ill-considered and hasty proposals that had been brought down.

Referring to the additional superannuation benefits proposed, he said that they had not heard one word as tb; how much they were going to cost. The" public were entitled to more frankness from the Government than they, had received. It was not a business proposition and never could be. The proposal was not going. to give a.

better service, but it was going to give a much more expensive service.

Mr. Bodkin said that by orderly marketing the National Party visualised produce being marketed, not on behalf of the Government, but on behalf of the farmers, and should there be any surplus it was the property of the farmers. The Government was recognising that principle, and was prepared to pay out portion of the surplus, but it was obviously a bait to try and get the farmers' support because of the fact that their produce was .commandeered at a price considerably below the market value.

Referring to questions of criticism, Mr. Bodkin said that a Socialist Government did not permit of a minority opinion. If a Socialist Government were to exst, the right and opinions of individuals had to disappear completely. He recalled that the Government had had a Bill prepared to control the Press, a move that was intended to take. away the power of criticism. That obtained also as far as the radio service was concerned.