SOCIAL SECURITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1938, Page 10

SOCIAL SECURITY

[THE MEDICAL SERVICE

WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE

MINISTER PRAISED

.. Passing reference to the medical-ser-vice provided under the social security legislation was made by Dr. J. P. S. Jamieson, of Nelson, the president, at the opening of the British Medical Association's new headquarters in New Zealand yesterday afternoon. x Dr. Jamieson said^ that those who believed that all questions of the medical service of the people would be solved by the establishment of a State medical service should study the history of the Army or Navy medical service, the Poor Law medical service, or the Indian Medical Service to see how continuously the association had had to make representations to remedy deficiencies and to ensure candidates of suitable type being available to maintain efficiency. 'The scientific and educational func- , tions of the association are unknown ' to the public because it does not come into contact wifb. them," said Dr. Jamieson. "Neither are its medicosocial functions well known, because "as a voluntary body, it has to work through other agencies. It is mainly when the association has to defend the material interests of its members in the interests of efficiency that the public hears of it. Hence there is apt to be a narrow conception of our objects. AHEAD OF PUBLIC OPINION. "In the main, the recommendations of the association have been ahead of public opinion. All the matters I have mentioned have taken many years to bring about. As an extreme example the establishment of a Health Ministry was/advocated in 1834. This was adopted first of all by New Zealand, I believe, some fifty years later, and not by Great Britain till 1919. One ■*• fears that we are now in advance of public opinion in our advocacy that the promotion of positive health, the reduction of' disease by prevention and research, and the better organisation of our diversified health services are of far greater importance than any system of wholesale extension of treatment of sickness after it has occurred, with financial control of the medical profession." Dr. Jamieson added that his last observation had no relation to the Minister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) or Mrs. Fraser, their principal guests, because their lon£ interest in matters of health was well known. He referred to Mrs. Fraser's services in hospital administration and as a.member of the Maternity Committee, and to, Mr. Fraser's in other capacities before he became Minister of Health and also his activities in support of the Cancer Campaign. Whatever difference in policy there might be between the Government and the association, it had no. relation to Mr. Fraser as Minister of Health. Their previous experience of three years of him in this .capacity produced nothing but feelings of regard and respect, and they were pleased that he was retaining the portfolio of Health. MINISTER'S TRIBUTE. Mr. Fraser, in the course of his address, paid tribute to the willingness of the members of the medical profession to give their time and ability in matters of public interest, and. referred to the assistance he had been offered and the good results that had followed. His - experience, continued Mr. Fraser, had borne out what had been said in regard to the willingness of members of the profession to give their services voluntarily in questions of the public health. That was the main reason why he was pleased to be present. In passing, he wished to say that he did not .believe there was any problem that confronted the country and the profession that could not be adjusted in an amicable and satisfactory way if that spirit of co-operation was extended all round by everybody.